Latest news with #StateofOriginIII
7NEWS
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Still my idol: Nicho Hynes delivers touching tribute to Cam Munster after Cronulla down Dolphins
Nicho Hynes has offered a touching tribute to Cameron Munster following the sudden death of his father, revealing he still views the Melbourne star as his idol. Hynes crossed twice in Cronulla's 24-12 win over the Dolphins on Friday night, in what was close to the Sharks halfback's best game of the season. The Cronulla No.7 had Munster's father's name Steven written on his wristband, days after Queensland dedicated their State of Origin series win to the family. Hynes also revealed his post-try celebration for the first four-pointer was a tribute to Munster, performing a dance the pair used to do together while at the Storm. 'I've just been thinking about him a lot,' Hynes said afterwards. 'I've been talking to my girlfriend about it. It's like, that could have been me. That could be anyone waking up without their dad or a parent. 'I'm sending lots of love to his family. I just remember after games at Melbourne, seeing his old man and old lady in the sheds. Always smiling and happy. 'It touched me a lot, big time.' Munster sat out Melbourne's trip to Newcastle on Saturday after returning to his family in Rockhampton following his inspirational effort in State of Origin III. Hynes said he had watched Munster's game-three performance with pride, after the 30-year-old took him under his wing from the moment he arrived at Melbourne in late 2018. 'In my first pre-season there I was a nobody. I was literally there on a train-and-trial deal and he didn't have to give me any time of day,' Hynes said. 'But he ended up having me at his house for a couple of weeks and whenever he wanted to go for a feed, he'd ask me to go for a feed. 'He was just someone who was so nice and caring and wanted to help out and make me better. 'I looked up to him. I've looked up to him ever since I met him. He's just someone I idolise. 'Even now, seeing the way he's handled it and went out and performed the other night, I don't think I've seen and played with a better rugby league player live.'
The Advertiser
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Hynes delivers statement in vital Sharks win
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has hit out at overzealous critics of NRL halves, after Nicho Hynes quelled his doubters in the Sharks' crucial 24-12 win over the Dolphins. After weeks of questions around his role in the halves, Hynes scored twice and engineered Cronulla's two other tries at Shark Park on Friday night. The win came at a crucial time for Cronulla, snapping a run of four losses in five games and putting them back in the NRL's top eight in place of the Dolphins. It didn't come easy, after the Sharks led 14-0 with 15 minutes to play before the Dolphins crossed twice in four minutes to get it back to 14-12. Toby Rudolf then produced a try-saving play to deny Jeremy Marshall-King on a kick chase, before Hynes sliced through the Dolphins defence to seal the match. Another long ball for Sione Katoa gave the Sharks' for-and-against a boost on the siren, capping a big night for the Sharks halfback. Hynes wasn't the only star of Cronulla's win. Cameron McInnes played despite going to hospital with an infection on his chest on Friday morning, while Briton Nikora's partner gave birth earlier in the day. Addin Fonua-Blake also turned out after attending his grandfather's funeral earlier on Friday, while Blayke Brailey was again great out of dummy-half. But it has been Hynes under the heaviest spotlight, with Fitzgibbon rejecting calls to move his marquee man to fullback in the past month. On Friday night, Hynes did his talking on the field. He scored the Sharks' first by running it on the last and splitting two defenders. Their next after the break also involved Hynes, when he put Nikora over the advantage line in the lead up to a Jesse Ramien four-pointer. Fitzgibbon afterwards pointed to the commentary around Nathan Cleary out of State of Origin III as evidence critics were too harsh on halves, wanting to judge on every win or loss. "If you don't win a game you get criticised, but the magnitude of that is amazing to me for the stars of our game. It's actually disappointing," Fitzgibbon said. "Nicho has been through plenty of that, but it has been a lesson for him. "I thought he was strong tonight. Didn't overdo everything, just kept it simple. "It was nice for him to have a few moments. It will probably keep them quiet for a week, hopefully." Fitzgibbon was happier with Cronulla's defence. The Dolphins have been the attacking juggernaut of the NRL in recent months, averaging 45.6 points over their past five games and reaching 50 thrice. At the same time the Sharks have been guilty of leaking points, letting in 164 points in the past fives games alone. But on Friday night, the script was flipped as the Dolphins long list of outs caught up with them. With regular five-eighth Kodi Nikorima out and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow rested, Cronulla's forwards rushed young halfback Isaiya Katoa. Katoa's only success came with 13 minutes to go, when he put Sean O'Sullivan through a hole and the five-eighth kicked for Max Feagai to score. The Sharks' defence was breached again four minutes later when Farnworth broke into space from within his own half to make it 14-12. "As a spine we're good enough to react on the go," Katoa said. "I just thought we weren't good enough and I take ownership of that. Just to relieve a bit of pressure for my outside guys. "I got caught a couple of times on last tackle just stuck with the ball. "We just took a while to connect as a spine and finally get some shape on in the last 20 minutes." Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has hit out at overzealous critics of NRL halves, after Nicho Hynes quelled his doubters in the Sharks' crucial 24-12 win over the Dolphins. After weeks of questions around his role in the halves, Hynes scored twice and engineered Cronulla's two other tries at Shark Park on Friday night. The win came at a crucial time for Cronulla, snapping a run of four losses in five games and putting them back in the NRL's top eight in place of the Dolphins. It didn't come easy, after the Sharks led 14-0 with 15 minutes to play before the Dolphins crossed twice in four minutes to get it back to 14-12. Toby Rudolf then produced a try-saving play to deny Jeremy Marshall-King on a kick chase, before Hynes sliced through the Dolphins defence to seal the match. Another long ball for Sione Katoa gave the Sharks' for-and-against a boost on the siren, capping a big night for the Sharks halfback. Hynes wasn't the only star of Cronulla's win. Cameron McInnes played despite going to hospital with an infection on his chest on Friday morning, while Briton Nikora's partner gave birth earlier in the day. Addin Fonua-Blake also turned out after attending his grandfather's funeral earlier on Friday, while Blayke Brailey was again great out of dummy-half. But it has been Hynes under the heaviest spotlight, with Fitzgibbon rejecting calls to move his marquee man to fullback in the past month. On Friday night, Hynes did his talking on the field. He scored the Sharks' first by running it on the last and splitting two defenders. Their next after the break also involved Hynes, when he put Nikora over the advantage line in the lead up to a Jesse Ramien four-pointer. Fitzgibbon afterwards pointed to the commentary around Nathan Cleary out of State of Origin III as evidence critics were too harsh on halves, wanting to judge on every win or loss. "If you don't win a game you get criticised, but the magnitude of that is amazing to me for the stars of our game. It's actually disappointing," Fitzgibbon said. "Nicho has been through plenty of that, but it has been a lesson for him. "I thought he was strong tonight. Didn't overdo everything, just kept it simple. "It was nice for him to have a few moments. It will probably keep them quiet for a week, hopefully." Fitzgibbon was happier with Cronulla's defence. The Dolphins have been the attacking juggernaut of the NRL in recent months, averaging 45.6 points over their past five games and reaching 50 thrice. At the same time the Sharks have been guilty of leaking points, letting in 164 points in the past fives games alone. But on Friday night, the script was flipped as the Dolphins long list of outs caught up with them. With regular five-eighth Kodi Nikorima out and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow rested, Cronulla's forwards rushed young halfback Isaiya Katoa. Katoa's only success came with 13 minutes to go, when he put Sean O'Sullivan through a hole and the five-eighth kicked for Max Feagai to score. The Sharks' defence was breached again four minutes later when Farnworth broke into space from within his own half to make it 14-12. "As a spine we're good enough to react on the go," Katoa said. "I just thought we weren't good enough and I take ownership of that. Just to relieve a bit of pressure for my outside guys. "I got caught a couple of times on last tackle just stuck with the ball. "We just took a while to connect as a spine and finally get some shape on in the last 20 minutes." Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has hit out at overzealous critics of NRL halves, after Nicho Hynes quelled his doubters in the Sharks' crucial 24-12 win over the Dolphins. After weeks of questions around his role in the halves, Hynes scored twice and engineered Cronulla's two other tries at Shark Park on Friday night. The win came at a crucial time for Cronulla, snapping a run of four losses in five games and putting them back in the NRL's top eight in place of the Dolphins. It didn't come easy, after the Sharks led 14-0 with 15 minutes to play before the Dolphins crossed twice in four minutes to get it back to 14-12. Toby Rudolf then produced a try-saving play to deny Jeremy Marshall-King on a kick chase, before Hynes sliced through the Dolphins defence to seal the match. Another long ball for Sione Katoa gave the Sharks' for-and-against a boost on the siren, capping a big night for the Sharks halfback. Hynes wasn't the only star of Cronulla's win. Cameron McInnes played despite going to hospital with an infection on his chest on Friday morning, while Briton Nikora's partner gave birth earlier in the day. Addin Fonua-Blake also turned out after attending his grandfather's funeral earlier on Friday, while Blayke Brailey was again great out of dummy-half. But it has been Hynes under the heaviest spotlight, with Fitzgibbon rejecting calls to move his marquee man to fullback in the past month. On Friday night, Hynes did his talking on the field. He scored the Sharks' first by running it on the last and splitting two defenders. Their next after the break also involved Hynes, when he put Nikora over the advantage line in the lead up to a Jesse Ramien four-pointer. Fitzgibbon afterwards pointed to the commentary around Nathan Cleary out of State of Origin III as evidence critics were too harsh on halves, wanting to judge on every win or loss. "If you don't win a game you get criticised, but the magnitude of that is amazing to me for the stars of our game. It's actually disappointing," Fitzgibbon said. "Nicho has been through plenty of that, but it has been a lesson for him. "I thought he was strong tonight. Didn't overdo everything, just kept it simple. "It was nice for him to have a few moments. It will probably keep them quiet for a week, hopefully." Fitzgibbon was happier with Cronulla's defence. The Dolphins have been the attacking juggernaut of the NRL in recent months, averaging 45.6 points over their past five games and reaching 50 thrice. At the same time the Sharks have been guilty of leaking points, letting in 164 points in the past fives games alone. But on Friday night, the script was flipped as the Dolphins long list of outs caught up with them. With regular five-eighth Kodi Nikorima out and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow rested, Cronulla's forwards rushed young halfback Isaiya Katoa. Katoa's only success came with 13 minutes to go, when he put Sean O'Sullivan through a hole and the five-eighth kicked for Max Feagai to score. The Sharks' defence was breached again four minutes later when Farnworth broke into space from within his own half to make it 14-12. "As a spine we're good enough to react on the go," Katoa said. "I just thought we weren't good enough and I take ownership of that. Just to relieve a bit of pressure for my outside guys. "I got caught a couple of times on last tackle just stuck with the ball. "We just took a while to connect as a spine and finally get some shape on in the last 20 minutes."
Herald Sun
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
State of Origin game three guide: Kick off time, how to watch, Queensland Maroons, NSW Blues team news
Good evening and welcome to our rolling coverage of the State of Origin game three decider. Follow live for all the latest scores, team news, analysis and more. Originally published as State of Origin III: Touching final words from Steven Munster about his son Cameron NRL There are question marks over several NSW players heading into the Origin decider as the Blues take a 'massive' gamble that could blow up. NRL Josh Hannay has been the cornerstone of Queensland coach Billy Slater's support staff in recent seasons and the highly-rated assistant is on the cusp of a full-time NRL head coaching role.
The Advertiser
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Dogs cop fresh blow as Ciraldo makes halves call
Canterbury have moved Lachlan Galvin back to the bench with coach Cameron Ciraldo reverting to Toby Sexton and Matt Burton as the club's first-choice halves. One week after shifting Burton to centre to deal with State of Origin outs, Ciraldo moved him back to five-eighth on Tuesday for the team to face North Queensland. The Bulldogs coach then stuck with Sexton in the No.7 jersey, Galvin going back to the bench in a role he has filled in two of four games for Canterbury. Galvin's game was met with heavy scrutiny last week with Canterbury guilty of being impatient in attack during their 22-18 capitulation to Brisbane. The mid-season recruit has come on in the halves in both games he has played off the bench with Sexton moving to hooker and Reed Mahoney taken from the field. But pressure is growing on the Bulldogs to come up with a settled spine, with the club dropping from first to third and nine rounds left in the season. Mahoney will join North Queensland next year after being granted a release from the final season of his contract, while Sexton is bound for Catalans in the English Super League. Ciraldo's selection came as winger Marcelo Montoya was ruled out for up to six weeks with a neck injury, leaving Enari Tuala to play in his spot. Elsewhere, Sam Walker is poised to make his NRL comeback from a ruptured ACL in the Sydney Roosters' halves, after a broken hand denied him that chance last month. Coach Trent Robinson has named Hugo Savala to start alongside him at No.6, with Sandon Smith squeezed out of the 17 altogether. Victor Radley will also return from a concussion for the Roosters against St George Illawarra, who have Luciano Leilua (quad) and Hamish Stewart (concussion) back. Brisbane have moved playmaker Ben Hunt to hooker on his return from a hamstring injury, leaving Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in the halves. They will face a Gold Coast side on Sunday night that has David Fifita back for the first time since round eight, while Jayden Campbell returns from concussion. The Warriors have also landed on a crucial halves call, opting to make Tanah Boyd the new No.7 and leaving Te Maire Martin on the bench after Luke Metcalf's season-ending knee injury. Taine Tuaupiki will also wear the Warriors' No.1 jersey against Wests Tigers on Sunday, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) sidelined. There is better news for Melbourne at fullback with Ryan Papenhuyzen (calf) back in their team to face Newcastle on Sunday. Craig Bellamy has ruled out winger Xavier Coates backing up from State of Origin III, while his other representatives remain on an extended bench. The Knights have handed their No.1 jersey to Fletcher Hunt after Kalyn Ponga's season-ending foot injury, while fit-again winger Greg Marzhew is back. Penrith will give themselves until later in the week to decide whether their Origin quintet back up against a Parramatta side that has mid-season recruit Tallyn Da Silva starting at hooker. And Sean O'Sullivan will come into the Dolphins halves to face the reasonably settled Cronulla on Friday night, with Kodi Nikorima out for six weeks with a hamstring injury. Canterbury have moved Lachlan Galvin back to the bench with coach Cameron Ciraldo reverting to Toby Sexton and Matt Burton as the club's first-choice halves. One week after shifting Burton to centre to deal with State of Origin outs, Ciraldo moved him back to five-eighth on Tuesday for the team to face North Queensland. The Bulldogs coach then stuck with Sexton in the No.7 jersey, Galvin going back to the bench in a role he has filled in two of four games for Canterbury. Galvin's game was met with heavy scrutiny last week with Canterbury guilty of being impatient in attack during their 22-18 capitulation to Brisbane. The mid-season recruit has come on in the halves in both games he has played off the bench with Sexton moving to hooker and Reed Mahoney taken from the field. But pressure is growing on the Bulldogs to come up with a settled spine, with the club dropping from first to third and nine rounds left in the season. Mahoney will join North Queensland next year after being granted a release from the final season of his contract, while Sexton is bound for Catalans in the English Super League. Ciraldo's selection came as winger Marcelo Montoya was ruled out for up to six weeks with a neck injury, leaving Enari Tuala to play in his spot. Elsewhere, Sam Walker is poised to make his NRL comeback from a ruptured ACL in the Sydney Roosters' halves, after a broken hand denied him that chance last month. Coach Trent Robinson has named Hugo Savala to start alongside him at No.6, with Sandon Smith squeezed out of the 17 altogether. Victor Radley will also return from a concussion for the Roosters against St George Illawarra, who have Luciano Leilua (quad) and Hamish Stewart (concussion) back. Brisbane have moved playmaker Ben Hunt to hooker on his return from a hamstring injury, leaving Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in the halves. They will face a Gold Coast side on Sunday night that has David Fifita back for the first time since round eight, while Jayden Campbell returns from concussion. The Warriors have also landed on a crucial halves call, opting to make Tanah Boyd the new No.7 and leaving Te Maire Martin on the bench after Luke Metcalf's season-ending knee injury. Taine Tuaupiki will also wear the Warriors' No.1 jersey against Wests Tigers on Sunday, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) sidelined. There is better news for Melbourne at fullback with Ryan Papenhuyzen (calf) back in their team to face Newcastle on Sunday. Craig Bellamy has ruled out winger Xavier Coates backing up from State of Origin III, while his other representatives remain on an extended bench. The Knights have handed their No.1 jersey to Fletcher Hunt after Kalyn Ponga's season-ending foot injury, while fit-again winger Greg Marzhew is back. Penrith will give themselves until later in the week to decide whether their Origin quintet back up against a Parramatta side that has mid-season recruit Tallyn Da Silva starting at hooker. And Sean O'Sullivan will come into the Dolphins halves to face the reasonably settled Cronulla on Friday night, with Kodi Nikorima out for six weeks with a hamstring injury. Canterbury have moved Lachlan Galvin back to the bench with coach Cameron Ciraldo reverting to Toby Sexton and Matt Burton as the club's first-choice halves. One week after shifting Burton to centre to deal with State of Origin outs, Ciraldo moved him back to five-eighth on Tuesday for the team to face North Queensland. The Bulldogs coach then stuck with Sexton in the No.7 jersey, Galvin going back to the bench in a role he has filled in two of four games for Canterbury. Galvin's game was met with heavy scrutiny last week with Canterbury guilty of being impatient in attack during their 22-18 capitulation to Brisbane. The mid-season recruit has come on in the halves in both games he has played off the bench with Sexton moving to hooker and Reed Mahoney taken from the field. But pressure is growing on the Bulldogs to come up with a settled spine, with the club dropping from first to third and nine rounds left in the season. Mahoney will join North Queensland next year after being granted a release from the final season of his contract, while Sexton is bound for Catalans in the English Super League. Ciraldo's selection came as winger Marcelo Montoya was ruled out for up to six weeks with a neck injury, leaving Enari Tuala to play in his spot. Elsewhere, Sam Walker is poised to make his NRL comeback from a ruptured ACL in the Sydney Roosters' halves, after a broken hand denied him that chance last month. Coach Trent Robinson has named Hugo Savala to start alongside him at No.6, with Sandon Smith squeezed out of the 17 altogether. Victor Radley will also return from a concussion for the Roosters against St George Illawarra, who have Luciano Leilua (quad) and Hamish Stewart (concussion) back. Brisbane have moved playmaker Ben Hunt to hooker on his return from a hamstring injury, leaving Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in the halves. They will face a Gold Coast side on Sunday night that has David Fifita back for the first time since round eight, while Jayden Campbell returns from concussion. The Warriors have also landed on a crucial halves call, opting to make Tanah Boyd the new No.7 and leaving Te Maire Martin on the bench after Luke Metcalf's season-ending knee injury. Taine Tuaupiki will also wear the Warriors' No.1 jersey against Wests Tigers on Sunday, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) sidelined. There is better news for Melbourne at fullback with Ryan Papenhuyzen (calf) back in their team to face Newcastle on Sunday. Craig Bellamy has ruled out winger Xavier Coates backing up from State of Origin III, while his other representatives remain on an extended bench. The Knights have handed their No.1 jersey to Fletcher Hunt after Kalyn Ponga's season-ending foot injury, while fit-again winger Greg Marzhew is back. Penrith will give themselves until later in the week to decide whether their Origin quintet back up against a Parramatta side that has mid-season recruit Tallyn Da Silva starting at hooker. And Sean O'Sullivan will come into the Dolphins halves to face the reasonably settled Cronulla on Friday night, with Kodi Nikorima out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
The Advertiser
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
The day NSW's star of the future blew Cleary away
NSW have earmarked Isaiya Katoa as Nathan Cleary's successor by calling him into camp for State of Origin III, but the incumbent still remembers the day eight years ago when he first realised just how elite the young gun would become. It comes as Brian To'o and Payne Haas once again trained separately from their teammates on Saturday, the final day of NSW's Blue Mountains camp for the decider on July 9. Monday's session at Accor Stadium looms as judgement day for To'o, who needed ice and a brace on his knee after hurting himself playing for Penrith in round 17. But NSW teammates are confident Haas (back) and To'o will both play after they overcame previous injuries to respectively star in Origin I and II. "'Bizza' showed he didn't do much training last game and you've seen the performance he put in," said winger Zac Lomax. "I don't think there are too many questions around that (his recovery) because he's done it and he's performed for us." Long before he was the Dolphins halfback setting the NRL alight, a 13-year-old Katoa accompanied his brother to Penrith headquarters during the off-season. A hooker who played 75 NRL games, Sione Katoa was reporting for an informal training session with Cleary and a handful of other Panthers teammates. The younger Katoa, barely a teenager much less an adult, ran rings around the group of NRL pros, which included Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Viliame Kikau. "We were doing 3 on 2 drills and he was carving it up. I was like, I've never seen someone at this age do that sort of stuff," said Blues halfback Cleary. "I'd already heard of him, there were raps on him since he was real young. But then just to see him, I was like, it's not normal for a 13-year-old kid to be doing this." It's a fair appraisal from Cleary, a generational talent who grew up playing alongside current NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai - himself rated a top-tier junior talent. Katoa received his first call into NSW camp last week, spending two days around the Blues at their Leura hideaway ahead of the decider in Sydney on July 9. Luai's estimations of Katoa only rose for reuniting with the young superstar, who had been in Penrith's junior system while Luai was at the club. Four-time premiership winner Luai admits he's a little intimidated by the thought of facing Katoa at Wests Tigers, and felt he was "definitely" an Origin star of the future. "It's scary, you're going to have to go up against that in clubland soon. Hopefully he doesn't go that well against you," Luai said. "Obviously his ability to play, his potential and all that, but just the way he speaks, the way he carries himself, the way he interacts with the boys as well. "It's just like, how mature is this guy and how high is his ceiling?" Cleary has been pondering that question for the last eight years. He has been floored by what Katoa has achieved lifting the Dolphins into finals calculations, with the expansion side averaging a tick under 46 points across their last five games. "He's probably my favourite player to watch in the comp at the moment, just what he's able to do," Cleary said. "Just his subtlety is incredible, especially for such a young guy. "People at the top of their game would be happy with what he's doing but he's only 21. It's quite incredible what he's doing." NSW have earmarked Isaiya Katoa as Nathan Cleary's successor by calling him into camp for State of Origin III, but the incumbent still remembers the day eight years ago when he first realised just how elite the young gun would become. It comes as Brian To'o and Payne Haas once again trained separately from their teammates on Saturday, the final day of NSW's Blue Mountains camp for the decider on July 9. Monday's session at Accor Stadium looms as judgement day for To'o, who needed ice and a brace on his knee after hurting himself playing for Penrith in round 17. But NSW teammates are confident Haas (back) and To'o will both play after they overcame previous injuries to respectively star in Origin I and II. "'Bizza' showed he didn't do much training last game and you've seen the performance he put in," said winger Zac Lomax. "I don't think there are too many questions around that (his recovery) because he's done it and he's performed for us." Long before he was the Dolphins halfback setting the NRL alight, a 13-year-old Katoa accompanied his brother to Penrith headquarters during the off-season. A hooker who played 75 NRL games, Sione Katoa was reporting for an informal training session with Cleary and a handful of other Panthers teammates. The younger Katoa, barely a teenager much less an adult, ran rings around the group of NRL pros, which included Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Viliame Kikau. "We were doing 3 on 2 drills and he was carving it up. I was like, I've never seen someone at this age do that sort of stuff," said Blues halfback Cleary. "I'd already heard of him, there were raps on him since he was real young. But then just to see him, I was like, it's not normal for a 13-year-old kid to be doing this." It's a fair appraisal from Cleary, a generational talent who grew up playing alongside current NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai - himself rated a top-tier junior talent. Katoa received his first call into NSW camp last week, spending two days around the Blues at their Leura hideaway ahead of the decider in Sydney on July 9. Luai's estimations of Katoa only rose for reuniting with the young superstar, who had been in Penrith's junior system while Luai was at the club. Four-time premiership winner Luai admits he's a little intimidated by the thought of facing Katoa at Wests Tigers, and felt he was "definitely" an Origin star of the future. "It's scary, you're going to have to go up against that in clubland soon. Hopefully he doesn't go that well against you," Luai said. "Obviously his ability to play, his potential and all that, but just the way he speaks, the way he carries himself, the way he interacts with the boys as well. "It's just like, how mature is this guy and how high is his ceiling?" Cleary has been pondering that question for the last eight years. He has been floored by what Katoa has achieved lifting the Dolphins into finals calculations, with the expansion side averaging a tick under 46 points across their last five games. "He's probably my favourite player to watch in the comp at the moment, just what he's able to do," Cleary said. "Just his subtlety is incredible, especially for such a young guy. "People at the top of their game would be happy with what he's doing but he's only 21. It's quite incredible what he's doing." NSW have earmarked Isaiya Katoa as Nathan Cleary's successor by calling him into camp for State of Origin III, but the incumbent still remembers the day eight years ago when he first realised just how elite the young gun would become. It comes as Brian To'o and Payne Haas once again trained separately from their teammates on Saturday, the final day of NSW's Blue Mountains camp for the decider on July 9. Monday's session at Accor Stadium looms as judgement day for To'o, who needed ice and a brace on his knee after hurting himself playing for Penrith in round 17. But NSW teammates are confident Haas (back) and To'o will both play after they overcame previous injuries to respectively star in Origin I and II. "'Bizza' showed he didn't do much training last game and you've seen the performance he put in," said winger Zac Lomax. "I don't think there are too many questions around that (his recovery) because he's done it and he's performed for us." Long before he was the Dolphins halfback setting the NRL alight, a 13-year-old Katoa accompanied his brother to Penrith headquarters during the off-season. A hooker who played 75 NRL games, Sione Katoa was reporting for an informal training session with Cleary and a handful of other Panthers teammates. The younger Katoa, barely a teenager much less an adult, ran rings around the group of NRL pros, which included Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Viliame Kikau. "We were doing 3 on 2 drills and he was carving it up. I was like, I've never seen someone at this age do that sort of stuff," said Blues halfback Cleary. "I'd already heard of him, there were raps on him since he was real young. But then just to see him, I was like, it's not normal for a 13-year-old kid to be doing this." It's a fair appraisal from Cleary, a generational talent who grew up playing alongside current NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai - himself rated a top-tier junior talent. Katoa received his first call into NSW camp last week, spending two days around the Blues at their Leura hideaway ahead of the decider in Sydney on July 9. Luai's estimations of Katoa only rose for reuniting with the young superstar, who had been in Penrith's junior system while Luai was at the club. Four-time premiership winner Luai admits he's a little intimidated by the thought of facing Katoa at Wests Tigers, and felt he was "definitely" an Origin star of the future. "It's scary, you're going to have to go up against that in clubland soon. Hopefully he doesn't go that well against you," Luai said. "Obviously his ability to play, his potential and all that, but just the way he speaks, the way he carries himself, the way he interacts with the boys as well. "It's just like, how mature is this guy and how high is his ceiling?" Cleary has been pondering that question for the last eight years. He has been floored by what Katoa has achieved lifting the Dolphins into finals calculations, with the expansion side averaging a tick under 46 points across their last five games. "He's probably my favourite player to watch in the comp at the moment, just what he's able to do," Cleary said. "Just his subtlety is incredible, especially for such a young guy. "People at the top of their game would be happy with what he's doing but he's only 21. It's quite incredible what he's doing."
