Isaiya Katoa has ensured he remains at the forefront of New South Wales consideration with a stunning masterclass against the Sydney Roosters to thrust the Dolphins into the NRL’s top four.
The Dolphins halfback, called into Blues camp this week as cover for Mitchell Moses, pulled the strings in his side’s 48-10 triumph in a clash missing 12 players through State of Origin duties between the outfits.
This was a case of the game’s best rising No.7 against one of its elder statesmen in Daly Cherry-Evans. And with a try, a hand in several others, and 687 kicking metres, Katoa was in a class of his own.
The 22-year-old’s early kicking game was composed and perfect for the wet conditions, rarely straying from end-over-end bombs aimed at Sydney winger Tommy Talau. That pressure eventually forced an error, with the Dolphins’ maestro throwing a lavish dummy to sell Cherry-Evans on the next set to score the opening try.
The way he engaged the line opened up five-eighth Kodi Nikorima, with the Kiwi playing pivotal roles in tries to Herbie Farnworth and Trai Fuller. He even pulled out a brilliant second-half trick – chipping for his No.6 to score, with Jeremy Marshall-King, Connelly Lemuelu, Brad Schneider and Tevita Naufahu all scoring afterwards.
Sydney would have been frustrated to be denied the opening points, after Salesi Foketi was pinned by the bunker for a double movement – Francis Molo clinging to him, but the Roosters lock appeared to have momentum on his side.
However, from that moment, they faltered against the Dolphins’ charge under Katoa’s guidance, while also losing Reece Foley and Hugo Savala to head injury assessments. Consolation tries to debutants Rex Bassingthwaighte and Toby Rodwell added some respectability to the score.
Nathan Cleary may have a mortgage on the New South Wales halfback jumper, but his former Panthers prodigy will remain hot on his heels.
“It was great for him to get that experience, getting to go and hang around guys like Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses, and I think that’s all part of his development,” Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said of Katoa’s stint in Blues camp on the eve of Friday night’s encounter.
“I’ve seen him grow in confidence over the last 12 months, being around those camps last year, and going into camp this year and again being around the calibre of players there. I think that really helps him in terms of his confidence and his communication.
“He might only pick up one or two little things, but they’re all little things that come back and help us as well.”
The Dolphins will, however, be sweating on the fitness of goal-kicking winger Jamayne Isaako, who pulled out of the final tackle of the game, reeling in pain and clutching at his arm.
Frantic Fuller
Fresh off inking a one-year contract extension to remain at the Dolphins, Fuller proved once again he was a cut above being a backup NRL player.
Stepping into the fullback void left by Maroons ace Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, the 29-year-old was fearless in everything he did.
Every carry he made was fast and direct with no thoughts of self-preservation, running for 156 metres by halftime before scoring the first try after the break, supporting an Oryn Keeley linebreak orchestrated by Nikorima.
His efforts – finishing with 266 running metres – raised the question again of how long he can remain a reserve. It was Fuller’s powerful kick return after a strong Dolphins defensive set that generated the quick play the ball for Naufahu to burst through the line, with the shift to the right gifting Farnworth for the easiest of tries.
While a Redcliffe junior, Fuller will come off contract as the Papua New Guinea Chiefs join the competition, and Woolf suggested on the eve of Friday’s clash they needed to find more ways to inject the livewire if they were to retain his services long-term.
“We’re going to still keep finding opportunities for him, and he had an opportunity in the centres going back to the Warriors game, and he did a little bit in round one as well. We know he can do a job on the wing as well,” Woolf said.
“We’ve got incredible depth through the outside back positions and across the board, so his opportunities have been a little bit less or more limited, I suppose, but every time he steps in, he does an outstanding job. He brings energy, he brings toughness, he’s a bloke I know every player out there wants to play with.”
Gilbert’s Maroons message
While he undoubtedly would have been disappointed to miss Queensland selection, Tom Gilbert’s resurgence has ensured his name will remain on Billy Slater’s radar.
As he has slowly worked his way back from the best part of three injury-plagued years on the sidelines, the Dolphins co-captain came off the bench with plenty of vigour.
Finishing with 140 metres from 13 carries and 33 tackles, he ensured the initial momentum generated by Molo (153 metres) continued.
Gilbert told reporters last week a return to the Maroons fold had been his greatest motivation to get back to full fitness, having suffered pectoral, shoulder and knee issues. However, Woolf insisted on Thursday that a recall beckoned in the near future.
“I don’t think his movement in particular [when he first came back] was quite back to where we all know it can be. Him getting a real continuous run of footy and training, you can see he’s starting to move better,” he said.
“He’s still got that same work ethic, intensity and drive that he plays with. I know he’ll be a little bit disappointed, I was disappointed for him … I’ve got no doubt he would’ve been considered.
“He’ll be in consideration for game three, I’m sure.”
