KNIGHTS chief executive Matt Gidley heralded Aku Uate as one of rugby league’s ‘‘genuine superstars’’ after the popular Newcastle, NSW and Australian winger played a starring role at the NRL season launch in Sydney last night.
Judged the world’s best winger in November by the game’s international ruling body, the Rugby League International Federation, Uate featured alongside other modern-day league stars Benji Marshall, Billy Slater and Ben Barba in the new television commercial set to Bon Jovi’s Our House anthem.
In stylised footage taken from the dual Dally M winger of the year’s four-try performance against South Sydney in the final round last season, flames appear under his feet as he shimmies into his trademark ‘‘Uate Shuffle’’ then explodes through a puff of smoke as he steps between Rabbitohs defenders John Sutton and Fetuli Talanoa.
Knights defensive hitman Joel Edwards plays a cameo, drilling Storm back-rower Ryan Hinchcliffe with a rib-rattling ball-and-all tackle at AAMI Park last season.
‘‘Aku’s personality and athleticism are a perfect fit to advertise our game and our club,’’ said Gidley, who represented the Knights at the season launch alongside his younger brother and club captain Kurt.
‘‘He is a genuine superstar of our game and we are extremely proud to have him representing our community.
‘‘It’s a credit to Aku to be included in the new television commercial, and seeing it here at the NRL season launch at the new Rugby League Central building.
‘‘With our own Knights season launch at Merewether Surf House on Friday to look forward to, and fantastic advance ticket sales, everything points to a massive night at Hunter Stadium next Thursday when we kick off our season and the NRL season against St George Illawarra.’’
In one of his first duties as chairman of the new ARL Commission, John Grant and ARLC chief executive David Gallop mingled with players, coaches, officials and sponsors at the season launch at Rugby League Central, the game’s new headquarters at Moore Park.
‘‘Never has rugby league entered a season with so much to look forward to, nor has it done so from such a position of strength,’’ Gallop said.
‘‘It is a strength that comes from our clubs, our fans, our coaches, our referees, our volunteers, the communities who have supported rugby league for generations and, at the heart of it all, our players.
‘‘It comes from the sort of community involvement that makes the All Stars a reality, that promotes literacy and leadership programs, and which over the last 24 days has seen 350 players visit more than 115,000 schoolchildren across Australia and New Zealand.
‘‘The moments showcased in the Our House campaign – David Mead’s amazing try, Akuila Uate’s mesmerising attack, Ben Barba’s defiance of gravity and Shaun Johnson’s race to the line – these are things that can’t be choreographed.
‘‘They are memories that live with us for years because we sat there, we watched it and we still didn’t think it was possible.’’
Email a friend