The NRL is losing one of its most established players in a remunerative signing to Super League club Huddersfield.
Also published on https://www.zerotackle.com/uate-signs-with-english-club-huddersfield-for-2019-33854/
A lucrative three-year deal with Huddersfield was too good to pass up for veteran entertainer and Manly winger Akuila Uate, ending a decade-long career with the NRL due to a dire financial situation.
The Yorkshire club will take on Sea Eagles’ winger in 2019, reportedly driven from the NRL from salary-cap pressure: a pressure the 30-year-old and father of three could no longer take.
Uate’s departure from the NRL will see the end of a long and successful career, scoring 129 tries in 198 games as well as playing for New South Wales in the State of Origin.
The Fijian-born veteran player is set to link with former Canberra hooker Simon Woolford; in the meantime Uate plans to take Manly’s shaky 2018 campaign upwards.
“I’ve recently signed overseas, I’m excited now because it’s about my family and we’re starting that move from next year,” Uate told NRL.com.
“I’ve let the boys know that I’ll be leaving at the end of the year. There’s no hard feelings there, at the end of the day they’ve made the decision for me to move on.
“I’d love to stay but I’ve got to look to the future for my three kids.
“The salary cap stuff hasn’t helped. There were offers here to stay but I think I’ve done enough in this game now and I’m grateful for what’s it done for me.”
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