Isaiya Katoa (born 18 February 2004) is a New Zealand born Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback or five-eighth for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 18 February 2004 Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (14 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Halfback, Five-eighth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1] As of 13 June 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
editKatoa 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 and second cousin of former Rugby Union footballer Sam Wykes.[4]
Playing career
editRugby Union
editKatoa 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.[5] At Barker, he won a Combined Associated Schools Championship[6] and a Manu Sutherland Shield beating St Joseph's College, Nudgee in 2022.
International career
edit
In 2022, Katoa was named in the Tonga squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[7] In late 2022, Katoa played three matches at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup including Tonga's quarter-final loss to Samoa.[8][9] 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.[10]
Club career
editKatoa was contracted to the Penrith Panthers as a junior coming through the ranks,[11] before signing with the Dolphins on the day of his 18th birthday for their inaugural 2023 NRL season.[12]
Dolphins (2023-present)
editIn 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.[13] 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.[14]
Statistics
edit| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |  Dolphins | 22 | 2 | 8 |
| Totals | 22 | 2 | 8 |
*stats correct as of the end of the 2023 season
Achievements and accolades
editIndividual
editReferences
editExternal links
edit