Latest news with #IsaiyaKatoa
ABC News
a day ago
- 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
a day ago
- 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.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Key Katoa quality Dolphins will build club around
The Dolphins have identified half Isaiya Katoa as the man they will build a premiership force around and it is not just because of his on-field class. The 22-year-old had his best performance in the NRL in the 42-22 win over Melbourne last round when he had five try assists against one of the NRL's heavyweights. It was close to a 10 out of 10 display. Instead of being happy with that, Katoa was more interested in detailing where he needed to improve. It is that quest to be the best of the best that sets him apart from other young playmakers. The honesty is startling. "I look at all the things I have done wrong in a game before I look at what I did well," Katoa told AAP. "There is so much improvement in my game. "There were two early (40/20 attempts) that I thought I could have pulled off better. "It is not that it was wrong to try it but if we play the set out I probably get a deeper kick down on their 10m line, whereas if I go for a 40/20 (and don't nail it) it gives someone like Ryan Papenhuyzen, who can read it well, the chance to catch the ball and get to the 30 or 40m line. "It's just about better game management from me. "When I don't pull it off the opposition gets to play better good-ball footy. "Individually in defence … I let Papenhuyzen score down the short side. Those are the things to work on." There has been a lot of speculation about whether Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans will join the club next year and what that might mean for the current halves. Dolphins boss Terry Reader clarified where Katoa stood in future plans. "He's one of the most exciting young players in the game. We've signed him through to 2028 and our club is going to be built around Izzy," Reader said. "Our coach Kristian Woolf has had Izzy in the Tongan side, and he's leading the Tongan team around as well, so we've got a lot of faith in him. "No matter who comes to our club, he's our halfback. You've heard our coach say that as well, and I think that's a great show of confidence." Katoa's humility is sincere but it is also tinged with a steely determination. He outplayed Storm half and 2024 Dally M medal winner Jahrome Hughes, but he was most interested in what he could learn from him. "It is probably Jahrome's running game and how good he is at taking the line on," Katoa said. "Because he is such a good runner it creates space for his outside men. That is something I have tried to add to my game, running a bit more and creating those opportunities and space on the outside." Isaiya Katoa scores his first NRL try! 🐬#NRLSharksDolphins — NRL (@NRL) May 6, 2023 The Dolphins play in Canberra on Sunday full of belief after three consecutive wins. "The win (over Melbourne) gave us a lot of confidence after we went behind (16-2) after 20 minutes," Katoa said. "We were able to turn it around and defend our tryline. When we defend like that it gives us a lot of confidence to go into our attack."
