Akuila Uate facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Full name | Akuila Uate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 6 October 1987 Votua, Nadroga-Navosa Province, Fiji |
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Playing information
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (182 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 15 st 6 lb (98 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Akuila Uate (born 6 October 1987) is a former professional rugby league player. He was known by his nicknames "Aku" and "Akuila the Thriller". He played as a winger for teams like the Newcastle Knights and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in Australia's NRL. Later, he played for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League in England.
Akuila Uate played for both his home country, Fiji, and for Australia in international games. He is the top try-scorer in the history of the Newcastle Knights. He also won the Dally M Winger of the Year award three times. He represented New South Wales in the famous State of Origin matches.
Contents
Early Life and Rugby Beginnings
Akuila Uate was born in a place called Votua, in the Nadroga-Navosa Province of Fiji. In 2003, when he was 15, he moved to Woy Woy, New South Wales, Australia.
He started playing junior rugby league for the Woy Woy Roosters. Even as a young player, people noticed his amazing speed. He even came third in the Australian sprinting finals for his age group. A famous rugby league player, Andrew Johns, once said he had never seen a better athlete than Uate. Talent scouts thought he could be "the next Lote Tuqiri", another great winger. In 2005, while still at school, Uate played for the Australian schoolboys team. In 2006, he played for Fiji in a World Cup qualifying match, scoring a try.
Professional Playing Career
Starting in the NRL: 2008-2009
Uate made his first appearance in the NRL for the Newcastle Knights in 2008. He scored a try in his very first game! That year, he played 4 matches and scored 3 tries. He also played for Fiji in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, where he scored 5 tries in 4 games, including three tries in one match against France. Fiji reached the semi-finals of the tournament.
In June 2009, Uate signed a new contract to stay with the Knights for four more years. He played 17 matches and scored 8 tries that season.
Becoming a Star Winger: 2010-2012
In 2010, Uate became a regular player on the right wing for the Knights. He scored an amazing try against the Sydney Roosters, catching the ball from a kick-off and running through many defenders. At the end of 2010, Uate won the Dally M Winger of the Year award. This award is given to the best player in each position in the NRL. He was also the top try-scorer in the league with 21 tries in 24 matches. He was chosen to play for the Prime Minister's XIII team against Papua New Guinea, scoring a try in their win.
In 2011, Uate was selected for the NRL All Stars team and scored a try. He also played for the NSW Country Origin team, scoring the winning try. Later that year, he made his debut for New South Wales in the famous State of Origin series. He played all three games and scored a try. In one game for the Knights, he scored four tries against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. For the second year in a row, Uate won the Dally M Winger of the Year award. He was the top try-scoring winger with 20 tries and led the NRL in tackle-breaks. In October 2011, Uate made his debut for Australia and scored two tries. He also played for Australia in the 2011 Four Nations tournament. He finished 2011 by winning the RLPA Players' Player of the Year Award and the RLIF's International Winger of the Year Award.
In 2012, Uate played for Australia again in the 2012 ANZAC Test. He was also selected for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2012 State of Origin series, scoring the first try of the series. For the third year in a row, Uate was named the Dally M Winger of the Year. He was the Knights' top try-scorer with 18 tries in 22 matches. He also played for the Prime Minister's XIII team again, scoring a try.
Milestones and International Play: 2013-2016
In 2013, Uate played for the NRL All Stars team again. He signed a new four-year contract with the Knights. He also played for NSW Country Origin, scoring a try. In Round 11, he played his 100th NRL game for the Newcastle Knights. He finished the 2013 season with 15 tries in 24 matches. In October 2013, Uate decided to play for his home country, Fiji, again and was part of their squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. He scored three tries in one game against Ireland.
In 2014, Uate broke a big record for the Newcastle Knights. He became the club's highest try-scorer ever, passing Timana Tahu's record. He scored three tries in one game to reach this milestone. He finished the 2014 season as the Knights' top try-scorer with 12 tries in 15 matches.
In 2015, Uate scored his 100th career NRL try against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He played for NSW Country against NSW City, scoring a try. In Round 25, he played his 150th NRL match. He was the Knights' top try-scorer again with 12 tries in 22 matches.
In 2016, Uate played for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in the Melanesian Cup. After playing 10 matches and scoring 1 try, he was released from his contract with the Knights. He then signed a two-year contract with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
Moving to New Teams and Retirement: 2017-2020
In 2017, Uate made his debut for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. He played 24 matches and scored 14 tries for them. He was also selected for the Fiji squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. In one game against Wales, he showed off his speed and skill, setting up a try for his teammate and winning the man of the match award. He played 5 matches in the tournament.
In June 2018, Uate signed a three-year contract with the Huddersfield Giants, a team in the Super League in England, starting in 2019.
In November 2020, Akuila Uate announced that he was retiring from playing professional rugby league.
See Also
- List of Newcastle Knights try scorers
