Dolphins expecting big things from young gun Isaiya Katoa

It’s not often a teenager makes such a quick impression on his teammates as young Isaiya Katoa has done at the NRL’s new franchise, the Dolphins.

But then again, this kid could just be one out of the box.

When you listen to Katoa speak, and you listen to what his Dolphins teammates have to say about his attitude, work ethic and, most of all, his skill set, you realise this is not just some starry-eyed kid hoping for a break in the NRL.

No way.

This is a young man who has thought deeply about his career, examined all his options, mapped out a path he wants to take, and set out to become a top-flight NRL player in a few years.

He is prepared to be patient, prepared to learn from others, prepared to work hard and, most of all, prepared to be taught by the master mentor, Wayne Bennett.

It’s a blueprint for success and shows, even at 18, he has his head screwed on the right way with a clear picture of what he needs to do to make it all the way.

It might be a stretch to think, on the strength of just one NSW Cup game, he could be a shock selection for the club’s historic NRL debut against the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, March 5.

READ: NRL 2023 club-by-club preview & predictions

But if Bennett’s first-choice starting halves, Sean O’Sullivan and Anthony Milford, don’t fire early, Katoa may get a call-up earlier than expected.

Bennett has named him and fellow boom youngster Valynce Te Whare in his experimental squad to don the Dolphins team colours for the very first time in a trial game against the Central Queensland Capras at Marley Brown Oval in Gladstone on Saturday night.

It will be his first steps in what many believe will be a very good rugby league career.

Born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, Katoa played rugby union growing up before his parents, Maire and Katoni, moved to Australia when he was about 10 years old.

His brother Sione was already in Australia starting his NRL career with the Penrith Panthers, which prompted his parents to make the move across the Tasman.

Isaiya played schoolboy rugby union and rugby league, making the Australian Schoolboys side before electing to play for Tonga in the World Cup.

He was recruited from Penrith’s SG Ball Cup squad despite being rated by the Panthers as one of the best young talents in the club.

But the Panthers already have a quality pair of established young halves — Nathan Cleary and Jerome Luai — and the chance to be coached by a legend such as Bennett was too hard for him to turn down.

Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said Katoa was one of the new club’s first signings.

“Isaiya and his parents flew up to Brisbane last Christmas and came out to Redcliffe and inspected the facilities and he was one of the first players we signed,” Reader told BettingSite.com.au.

“He’s a very impressive kid, very respectful with a very good upbringing.

“He’s mature and articulate with a smart head on his shoulders and he knows a coach like Wayne Bennett will help his career.

Katoa, a half or five-eighth, with dazzling footwork, speed, and skill to match, has already struck up a good relationship with both the club’s first-choice halves.

Both O’Sullivan and Milford are aware he will be snapping at their heels for his chance to make his NRL debut, sooner rather than later.

Dolphins co-assistant coach Nathan Fien, who will be in charge of the team on Saturday, kept the lid on expectations when he spoke to the media about Katoa on Friday.

“He’s a kid that’s got some pretty big raps on him,” said Fien, a 277-game veteran and member of Bennett’s premiership-winning 2010 St George Illawarra side.

“It will be interesting to see how he handles it and how he runs the team tomorrow.

“To be honest, I am excited about seeing everyone have a run.”

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