It is the image that will have rival wingers shaking in their boots.

A 100kg, muscle ripped Akuila Uate cut an imposing figure yesterday as the Knights kicked off preparations for their 2011 premiership campaign with a light training run in Newcastle.

In a breakthrough year for the Fijian flyer, Uate was one of the NRL’s great success stories with a competition high 21 tries and Dally M Wing of the Year status.

But according to Knights insiders, the best is still to come.

In a sobering warning to rivals, Knights strength coach Mick Reid said Uate had the potential to improve one of his greatest assets that is his speed.

With the path now cleared for Uate to play Origin football for NSW and Tests for Australia, most judges believe it is only a matter of time for the Fijian.

But coach Rick Stone said there was no chance of his try scoring machine getting too far ahead of himself.


Story by: Dreu Vukailagi