Latest news with #IsaiyaKatoa
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Young leader: Dolphins gun equals idol Cleary's record
Isaiya Katoa will become the youngest NRL captain since his idol Nathan Cleary in 2019, having given Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf the ultimate accolade as he prepares to step up. The 21-year-old will lead the Dolphins for the first time on Saturday, when they face Newcastle in Perth without suspended acting captain Felise Kaufusi. The Dolphins expect to have Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on deck for the clash after he made it through Queensland's game-two State of Origin win, while Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga is also set to back up. Katoa, at just 21 years and 123 days, will be the youngest player to captain an NRL side since Cleary did so at the exact same age when he co-captained Penrith in round one of 2019. Katoa, who came through the Panthers system with Cleary as a role model, has been the catalyst for the Dolphins winning their past three games in emphatic fashion and surging into sixth position. The superstar is the player former greats Andrew Johns and Cooper Cronk wax lyrical about most weeks for his elite playmaking ways. The Tongan international has engaged the line 161 times this year, the best in the NRL, while he has the most kick metres (6254m) and is equal second for try assists (13). He played his first two seasons of NRL under master coach Wayne Bennett but has gone to another level under Woolf in 2025. "'Woolfy' has been awesome for me and has probably had the biggest impact on my footy career so far," Katoa said. "I've had him as a coach since I was 18 years old in the Tonga team. He knows how to bring me right back to square one when I need it and at the same time he gives me praise when I need it as well. "That balance has been awesome and is what I do love about him … just the way he can connect with everyone on a personal level and instil a lot of confidence into you." Despite missing four of their best forwards, the Dolphins have won their past three games against Canterbury, St George Illawarra and North Queensland with a combined tally of 158-18. "I think we understand our DNA as a team," Katoa said. "We now know we can base our game off hard work, winning the tough stuff first and then we get the joy to play a bit of footy towards the back end of the halves. "If we can keep the balance right with that and go after teams physically and win games with our shoulders it is going to be great for us in the long run." Isaiya Katoa will become the youngest NRL captain since his idol Nathan Cleary in 2019, having given Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf the ultimate accolade as he prepares to step up. The 21-year-old will lead the Dolphins for the first time on Saturday, when they face Newcastle in Perth without suspended acting captain Felise Kaufusi. The Dolphins expect to have Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on deck for the clash after he made it through Queensland's game-two State of Origin win, while Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga is also set to back up. Katoa, at just 21 years and 123 days, will be the youngest player to captain an NRL side since Cleary did so at the exact same age when he co-captained Penrith in round one of 2019. Katoa, who came through the Panthers system with Cleary as a role model, has been the catalyst for the Dolphins winning their past three games in emphatic fashion and surging into sixth position. The superstar is the player former greats Andrew Johns and Cooper Cronk wax lyrical about most weeks for his elite playmaking ways. The Tongan international has engaged the line 161 times this year, the best in the NRL, while he has the most kick metres (6254m) and is equal second for try assists (13). He played his first two seasons of NRL under master coach Wayne Bennett but has gone to another level under Woolf in 2025. "'Woolfy' has been awesome for me and has probably had the biggest impact on my footy career so far," Katoa said. "I've had him as a coach since I was 18 years old in the Tonga team. He knows how to bring me right back to square one when I need it and at the same time he gives me praise when I need it as well. "That balance has been awesome and is what I do love about him … just the way he can connect with everyone on a personal level and instil a lot of confidence into you." Despite missing four of their best forwards, the Dolphins have won their past three games against Canterbury, St George Illawarra and North Queensland with a combined tally of 158-18. "I think we understand our DNA as a team," Katoa said. "We now know we can base our game off hard work, winning the tough stuff first and then we get the joy to play a bit of footy towards the back end of the halves. "If we can keep the balance right with that and go after teams physically and win games with our shoulders it is going to be great for us in the long run." Isaiya Katoa will become the youngest NRL captain since his idol Nathan Cleary in 2019, having given Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf the ultimate accolade as he prepares to step up. The 21-year-old will lead the Dolphins for the first time on Saturday, when they face Newcastle in Perth without suspended acting captain Felise Kaufusi. The Dolphins expect to have Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on deck for the clash after he made it through Queensland's game-two State of Origin win, while Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga is also set to back up. Katoa, at just 21 years and 123 days, will be the youngest player to captain an NRL side since Cleary did so at the exact same age when he co-captained Penrith in round one of 2019. Katoa, who came through the Panthers system with Cleary as a role model, has been the catalyst for the Dolphins winning their past three games in emphatic fashion and surging into sixth position. The superstar is the player former greats Andrew Johns and Cooper Cronk wax lyrical about most weeks for his elite playmaking ways. The Tongan international has engaged the line 161 times this year, the best in the NRL, while he has the most kick metres (6254m) and is equal second for try assists (13). He played his first two seasons of NRL under master coach Wayne Bennett but has gone to another level under Woolf in 2025. "'Woolfy' has been awesome for me and has probably had the biggest impact on my footy career so far," Katoa said. "I've had him as a coach since I was 18 years old in the Tonga team. He knows how to bring me right back to square one when I need it and at the same time he gives me praise when I need it as well. "That balance has been awesome and is what I do love about him … just the way he can connect with everyone on a personal level and instil a lot of confidence into you." Despite missing four of their best forwards, the Dolphins have won their past three games against Canterbury, St George Illawarra and North Queensland with a combined tally of 158-18. "I think we understand our DNA as a team," Katoa said. "We now know we can base our game off hard work, winning the tough stuff first and then we get the joy to play a bit of footy towards the back end of the halves. "If we can keep the balance right with that and go after teams physically and win games with our shoulders it is going to be great for us in the long run."
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Cronk: Katoa 'among the BEST'
NRL: Cooper Cronk has declared Isaiya Katoa as one of the best halves in the NRL after the Dolphins scored over 160 points in their last three games.
ABC News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Mal Meninga: It's an opportunity to prove to myself I can still do it
New Perth Bears Coach - and outgoing Kangaroos coach - Mal Meninga (1:22:24) headlined a bumper NRL Saturday Show. He told Andrew Moore and the team what tempted him to take the job setting up the NRL's newest team. He also gave his thought on the Queensland team ahead of game 2 of Origin. Dolphins gun Isaiya Katoa (27:33) is staying very humble despite helping his team to a big win over the Dragons. He explained he's still focused on the mistakes he's making rather than just accepting the plaudits for what he's doing right. Also on the show Queenslander Wayne Bartrim (2:16:41) talked about the 1995 Origin win, Cronulla CEO Dino Mezzatesta 2:47:43) dropped by the box at Shark Park and a fired up Michael Carayannis gives all the latest news (and speculation) in MC's Hammertime (49:04).
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maroons guns of past help Dolphins spine shine: Katoa
Dolphins star half Isaiya Katoa is a true NSW Blue in waiting, but he has credited video sessions watching one of Queensland's greatest spine combinations for the dazzling attack of his side. The Dolphins have scored a combined 100 points in their past two matches, with a record-breaking 56-6 win over St George Illawarra on Friday night following a 44-8 demolition of competition leaders Canterbury before their bye. "We have a spine meeting where our nine, six, seven and one come together," Katoa said after his man-of-the-match display against the Dragons. "Some of the clips we look at are Cameron Smith, JT (Johnathan Thurston), Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater all connecting (for the Maroons). "The more they connected the more success their team had. We are trying to build that into our own games and still try to play to our individual strengths. It is a work in progress for us." Built on steely defence, the past two Dolphins wins have also featured the creative wares of halves Kodi Nikorima and Katoa at their best. Dazzling fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was on Origin duties for the Canterbury clash, but scored a try double against the Dragons. Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returned from an extended break with a leg laceration against the Red V. With bench hooker Kurt Donoghoe chiming in to perfection, the Dolphins attack, when on song, is as good as any side in the NRL Centres Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo have been in great touch, which is due to Nikorima and Katoa connecting so well together as a duo and not just sitting on their own sides of the field. "We speak about (combining) all week. Over the pre-season we were working really hard at trying to find each other on the field, whether I come over to the left side or Kodi comes over to the right side," Katoa said "The more we can find each other the more we can find guys like Hammer (Tabuai-Fidow), Herbie and Jake on the outside. With the speed and strike they have, you need to keep giving them the footy." Once again it is the old Maroons halves pairing that Katoa has learned so much from. "The two that come to mind are Cooper Cronk and JT, just the way they were always talking to each other, playing both sides of the field and mixing it up at times," Katoa said. "It is something me and Kodi base our game off." The Dolphins are now in seventh position on the ladder and play North Queensland away next Saturday night.
ABC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Dolphins shock Bulldogs in torrential conditions with 44-8 rout
The Dolphins have recorded one of the biggest win in their short history with a 44-8 rout of ladder-leaders Canterbury. In atrocious conditions at Stadium Australia the Dolphins ran riot late with Isaiya Katoa starring in the lopsided victory. The Bulldogs were warm favourites heading into the win but a lack of ball control cost them dearly as they crashed to their second loss of the season. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
