If not for a bold gamble to venture into the unknown and away from rugby league’s most dominant juggernaut, Isaiya Katoa’s meteoric rise may never have eventuated.
uncertain
rise → venture → juggernaut
Quietly biding his time in the Penrith Panthers’ lower ranks, but without much of an opportunity in sight owing to Nathan Cleary’s presence, the halfback faced a dilemma when he received a call from Wayne Bennett.
asserted
he → bid → Bennett
Would he stay at the NRL’s most successful club or make the leap to the Dolphins, where it could be years before experiencing success?
uncertain
it → stay → success
Katoa’s choice to go with the latter has earmarked him as a future State of Origin superstar, and has spearheaded the Redcliffe-based outfit into their first preliminary final on Friday night against the Sydney Roosters.
“To take a bit of a risk and a shot at a kid who’s just come out of high school …
asserted
who → go → school
I owe this club everything.
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I → owe → everything
It’s been a journey,” Katoa gushed.
asserted
Katoa → gush → ?
“Now as a club, we’re starting to reap the rewards.
asserted
we → start → rewards
If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would have developed as much as I have as a player.
asserted
I → think → player
The big move and ‘typical Wayne’ debut call
Katoa was only 18 when he made his World Cup debut for Tonga, the nation’s coach and Dolphins honcho Kristian Woolf telling the story how he saw the teenager studying for his final high school exams in an England hotel lobby.
asserted
teenager → make → lobby
The Wellington-born talent moved to Sydney with his family when he was nine, and went on to play First XV for esteemed rugby union school, Barker College.
asserted
he → bear → school
The move north of the border for the Dolphins’ inaugural season – with the club criticised for a perceived inability to land a marquee recruit – loomed as his greatest challenge.
asserted
club → criticise → challenge
I understood how great the club was at Penrith in terms of how they developed their juniors, and … they’ve been the most dominant team,” Katoa said.
asserted
Katoa → understand → juniors
“I was tossing up between whether I wanted to stay at the Panthers and continue to develop my game, which I knew I’d be able to do, but at the same time I had the opportunity to come here, go straight into the top 30 and be coached by Wayne Bennett.
asserted
I → toss → Bennett
“It’s probably one of the best opportunities I’ve been able to receive in my life.
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I → ’ → life
I don’t even know if I’m playing first-grade if I don’t take that chance.”
asserted
I → know → chance
The Dolphins had recruited Anthony Milford, Kodi Nikorima and Sean O’Sullivan as its halves options.
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Dolphins → recruit → options
In a shocking twist, Bennett called on Katoa to lead the team in their triumphant launch against the Sydney Roosters.
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Bennett → call → Roosters
“He actually never told me I was going to debut.
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I → tell → me
The way I found out was when he actually named the team list – that’s typical real old-school Wayne,” Katoa laughed.
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Katoa → find → list
“What it did was give me so much confidence.
asserted
did → give → confidence
For him to overlook some of the great players we had and throw me in straight away was a show of faith from him, and something I’ve always appreciated of Wayne.”
asserted
I → overlook → Wayne
The youngest captain
Aged just 22, Katoa is by far the NRL’s youngest captain – a role he shares with Tom Gilbert.
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he → age → Gilbert
When he speaks, the Tongan phenom does so assertively, but with a sense of composure and comfort in the man he is.
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he → speak → man
He has needed to grow up quickly.
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He → need → ?
“I still do love having a joke, laughing with the boys and mucking around.
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I → love → boys
But at the same time, I know when we’re playing footy it’s time for me to switch on and make sure I’m demanding things,” Katoa said.
asserted
Katoa → know → things
“I feel like maturity comes with the position; you’ve got to be on the ball making the most decisions, and you’re driving the mindset of your team.
“I feel like I haven’t gotten everything right, but there are still things I’m constantly learning.”
asserted
I → feel → team
Katoa arrived a reserved young man, but was given a rev up by founding leaders Felise Kaufusi, Mark Nicholls, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich.
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Katoa → arrive → Kaufusi
Their words paved the way for the No.7 to announce himself as the club’s leader beyond the end of his 2028 contract.
“They called me aside one training session and just said to me ‘you’re the halfback of the team, we want you to tell us what to do.
asserted
you → pave → what
We’re not going to get angry if you yell at us, that’s your job’,” Katoa said.
asserted
Katoa → go → us
“The best leaders lead through their actions, not just their words, so that’s always constantly been in the back of my mind if I’m going to lead this team.”
The premiership dream
One game separates the Dolphins from a grand final berth in their maiden finals campaign.
asserted
game → lead → campaign
Katoa has been the driving force behind their charge.
asserted
Katoa → drive → charge
His Friday showdown with Maroons star Sam Walker ensures his composure which inspired a qualifying final win against the Warriors will be key again.
asserted
which → ensure → Warriors
“What impressed me was he kept his cool; regardless of the pressure, regardless of the score, there was a very hostile crowd that did influence some things and different decisions,” Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said.
asserted
Woolf → impress → things
“I certainly wouldn’t swap Isaiya for anyone.
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I → swap → anyone
I’ve been really proud of being able to watch him mature, and he’s so mature for his age anyway, but he’s grown into a father now, and it’s added another layer of maturity to him.”
asserted
it → watch → him
The Dolphins first grand final qualifier will take place against the same side they conquered in their 2023 NRL debut.
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they → take → debut
Nine Dolphins who took the field that day will run onto Suncorp Stadium again, where a win would solidify their status as a fledgling powerhouse.
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win → take → powerhouse
“Internally, we’ve always seen ourselves as a top four team, but it’s no good just speaking about being top four.
asserted
it → see → team
We knew our actions had to reflect off field actions,” Katoa said.
asserted
Katoa → know → actions
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
