Isaiya Katoa

Isaiya Katoa (born 18 February 2004) is a New Zealand born Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth or halfback for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Isaiya Katoa
Katoa in 2022
Personal information
Born (2004-02-18) 18 February 2004
Wellington, New Zealand
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight91 kg (14 st 5 lb)
Playing information
PositionFive-eighth, Halfback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2023– Dolphins 22 2 0 0 8
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022 Tonga 3 2 21 0 50
Source: [1]
As of 2 September 2023

Background

Katoa was born in Wellington, New Zealand to a family of Tongan and Cook Islands descent.[2] He moved to Sydney at nine years of age where he was educated at Barker College, Hornsby and played junior rugby league for Glenmore Park Brumbies alongside future NRL player Joseph Sua'ali'i.[3]

He is the brother to current NRL player Sione Katoa.

Playing career

Rugby Union

Katoa moved to Australia when he was nine. He attended Barker College for year 11 and 12 in Sydney playing for New South Wales Juniors and New South Wales Schools before representing Australian Schoolboys.[4] At Barker, he won a Combined Associated Schools Championship [5] and a Manu Sutherland Shield beating St Joseph's College, Nudgee in 2022.

International career

In 2022, Katoa was named in the Tonga squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[6] In late 2022, Katoa played three matches at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup including Tonga's quarter-final loss to Samoa.[7][8] The following year, Katoa was selected to represent Tonga in a three-Test series against England, kicking off at St Helens' Totally Wicked Stadium on 22 October 2023.[9]

Club career

Katoa was contracted to the Penrith Panthers as a junior coming through the ranks,[10] before signing with the Dolphins on the day of his 18th birthday for their inaugural 2023 NRL season.[11]

Dolphins (2023-present)

In round 1 of the 2023 NRL season, Katoa made his NRL debut with the Dolphins in their inaugural game in the national competition, defeating the Sydney Roosters 28–18 at Suncorp Stadium. In round 10 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Suncorp Stadium, Katoa scored a try for the Dolphins in their 36–16 victory.[12] In September, the Dolphins' Inaugural Presentation Ball was held at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Katoa received the club's annual Rookie of the Year award.[13]

Achievements and accolades

Individual

References
  1. Rugby League Project
  2. Zero Tackle profile
  3. From Glenmore Park to Lang Park: Katoa lines up childhood mate Suaalii in historic clash
  4. https://www.yoursportscard.com/player/isaiya-katoa/ SportsCard profile. Retrieved 23/09/2023
  5. http://www.cas.nsw.edu.au/winter-sports/rugby/previous-winners/ CAS Rugby Previous Winners. Combined Associated Schools webpage. Retrieved 23.09.2023
  6. Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
  7. "Rugby League World Cup: Samoa stun Tonga with 20-18 win to set up England rematch in semi-finals". www.skysports.com.
  8. https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2022/02/18/isaiya-katoa-highlights/ Isaiya Katoa Highlights. NSWRL webpage. Retrieved 23/09/2023
  9. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-samoa-squad-pacific-championships-ins-and-outs-brian-too-stephen-crichton-junior-paulo/news-story/a075f551dc0da0aefd29a357ddff3b60
  10. Chammas, Michael (3 February 2023). "Meet the cream of the NRL's 2023 crop before they become household names". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  11. Dolphins land playmaker of the future
  12. https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2023/round-10/sharks-v-dolphins/
  13. https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/09/07/emotional-isaako-sweeps-dolphins-awards/
  14. https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/09/07/emotional-isaako-sweeps-dolphins-awards/
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