NRL: No regrets for Isaiya Katoa over Dolphins switch in 2023

The Panthers were furious to lose him, but gun young halfback Isaiya Katoa has no regrets – he’s off to the Dolphins with a goal of playing in the NRL next year.

There were strong headlines when the 19-year-old SG Ball Cup winner signed a three-year contract with master coach Wayne Bennett’s outfit back in February.

Penrith legend Greg Alexander said it was very disappointing for his club to lose a player that it developed and wanted to keep.

And Panthers CEO Bryan Fletcher said there should be an NRL rule in place – possibly a financial incentive – if clubs develop elite young talent before they get poached by rival clubs.

But Katoa – a Glenmore Park Brumbies junior who inspired Penrith to a 22-20 triumph over the Roosters in last year’s SG Ball grand final – has no regrets about heading to the expansion Queensland club.

His reason for it was simple: there is just too much of a logjam of playmaking talent ahead of him at the foot of the mountains.

Captain and premiership-winning halfback Nathan Cleary owns the Panthers’ No.7 jersey, and Sean O’Sullivan is his hugely talented understudy at NSW Cup level.

“Unfortunately, in my position there are a couple of guns here. But that’s footy – that’s just part of the business of footy,” Katoa told BettingSite.com.au.

“I’m excited. It’s a pretty good opportunity going there (to the Dolphins) and to get a fresh start.

“I’m excited to learn under Wayne Bennett. It’s something as a footy player you can never turn it down.”

It was Katoa who finished man-of-the-match in Penrith’s incredible comeback victory over the Roosters, after his side trailed 20-0 at halftime.

He touched the ball plenty of times, exhibited a fine short and long passing game, kicked well and played a part in every Panthers try.

This was why Bennett and Dolphins recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan did not hesitate in offering the talented young playmaker a three-year contract – and a spot in Redcliffe’s 30-man squad – in February.

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“It was pretty quick. After last year playing school footy they must’ve seen a few videos and footage of my game,” Katoa said.

“They approached my manager, and my manager approached me.

“It was actually Wayne who asked for a meeting and straight away we thought ‘is this the right Wayne?’

“The next week we had a Zoom meeting with him just talking options. And a couple of weeks went by and then an offer was on the table.”

Before this season, Katoa had already built up an impressive body of work, which was why the Dolphins weren’t the only club after his services.

“We wanted to keep our options available because there were a fair few clubs who showed interest in me,” he said.

“We were just waiting for them and keeping every option available to see which one was the best one.

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“And we just took that as a reward for what I’ve already accomplished. We were waiting for every other club to come through. We tossed up which one was the best option.

“Redcliffe was the most suitable option for me.

“Peter was the one we were keeping in contact with. He’s a good bloke.

“He was the one who approached my manager with Wayne. He’s been really good and understandable of my situation.”

Despite being just 19, Katoa has set himself a goal of making his NRL debut next year.

“Yeah, obviously that’s the goal. But as a young kid I need to bide my time to work my way into the (match-day) squad,” he said.

“I’m not going up there expecting to get a starting spot. I’m going over there to learn.

“Even if that means playing a couple of lower-grade games and working my way into the squad. The ultimate goal is to get a first-grade game.

“That’s always been a goal of mine since I was a young kid.”

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