The kid whose skills stun Joey
By BARRY TOOHEY
He is known among teammates as "the King of Woy Woy".
No less a judge than Matthew Johns believes he has the potential to be a better winger than Kangaroos and Wallaby star Lote Tuqiri.
Meet the Newcastle Knights' latest teenage sensation Akuila Uate.
The 18-year old Fijian is in only his first full season in the Knights' Jersey Flegg side but already there are those prepared to say he will play for Australia.
Johns is one of them.
He saw him first hand for the first time against the Bulldogs at EnergyAustralia Stadium last Friday, and has been raving about his performance ever since.
"I couldn't believe it, to be honest," Johns said yesterday. "I'd heard some reports about him before, but he just blew me away with the way he went against the Bulldogs.
"I know its early days, but I think he is going to be a great player. This kid, without even trying to go over the top, has got the potential to be an even better player than Lote.
"He's big, he's strong, he has that aggressive streak in him, but what probably will separate him for Lote as he develops more is that he has this blinding pave. Obviously he has to dedicate himself and from here on it will be up to him, but he could develop into one of the best wingers we have ever seen."
Knights development manager Warren Smiles said 12 months ago he may have signed the next Tuqiri.
At the time there were those who doubted his bold prediction, but not anymore.
"He opened a few eyes the other day," Smiles said yesterday. "A fewgood judges who saw him play were shaking their heads and asking where we got this young bloke from."
Flegg coach Robert "Rip" Taylor first alerted Smiles to have a look at Uate playing at Woy Woy on the Central Coast. With a limited league background, he played Australian Schoolboys last season alongside Jarrod Mullen.
But his game has stepped up since then.
"He is still fairly green, but he is something really special - no doubt about that," Taylor said.
And he is apparently well grounded. Uate often gets the train to Newcastle for training, and was at high school until lunchtime last Friday in the build-up to the 3:50pm kick-off.
"His dad rang us to make sure we told Akuila we would like him to go to school on the morning of the game," Smiles said. "He really is a good kid."
Johns believe Uate, who is signed until the end of next year, should not be rushed.
"I'd be leaving him where he is and maybe introducing him to Premier League every so often, to give him a taste," he said.
"He doesn't need to be rushed because he is still learning the game."
. All weve had since July last year is good news basically 
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