Newcastle Knights player Akuila Uate, and his wife Samantha, recently welcomed their daughter Miriama Alumeci, a sister for Tatianna, aged 3; Tatianna’s birth was announced on the blog. Akuila is originally from Fiji, and moved to Australia to play rugby league while still a schoolboy. Even as a teenager, he was tipped to become a future star of the game. He has been with the Newcastle Knights for all his career so far, since 2008, and has won Winger of the Year three years in a row, in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Akuila has also played for Fiji, Australia, New South Wales, Country Origin, the NRL All Stars, and the Prime Minister’s XIII. The family’s surname is said yoo-AH-tay.

Former player Luke Patten, and his wife Rebecca, recently welcomed their son Brody Zane. Brody Patten’s birth was announced on ABC’s Grandstand this evening. Luke began his career playing for the Illawarra Steelers in 1998, and for the St George Illawarra Dragons after the clubs’ merger in 1999. He was with the Canterbury Bulldogs for almost ten years, and ended his career in the UK, playing for the Salford City Reds. When he retired in 2010, he was one of the last remaining former Illawarra Steelers players in the NRL. Last year, Luke took up a new role as a video referee, and often appears on Grandstand and other ABC shows to explain reffing decisions.

(Photo shows Akuila with his daughter Tatianna, from The Daily Telegraph)