Young leader: Dolphins gun equals idol Cleary’s record
Joel Gould |
Isaiya Katoa will become the youngest NRL captain since his idol Nathan Cleary in 2019, having given Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf the ultimate accolade as he prepares to step up.
The 21-year-old will lead the Dolphins for the first time on Saturday, when they face Newcastle in Perth without suspended acting captain Felise Kaufusi.
The Dolphins expect to have Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on deck for the clash after he made it through Queensland’s game-two State of Origin win, while Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga is also set to back up.
Katoa, at just 21 years and 123 days, will be the youngest player to captain an NRL side since Cleary did so at the exact same age when he co-captained Penrith in round one of 2019.
Katoa, who came through the Panthers system with Cleary as a role model, has been the catalyst for the Dolphins winning their past three games in emphatic fashion and surging into sixth position.
The superstar is the player former greats Andrew Johns and Cooper Cronk wax lyrical about most weeks for his elite playmaking ways.
The Tongan international has engaged the line 161 times this year, the best in the NRL, while he has the most kick metres (6254m) and is equal second for try assists (13).
He played his first two seasons of NRL under master coach Wayne Bennett but has gone to another level under Woolf in 2025.
“‘Woolfy’ has been awesome for me and has probably had the biggest impact on my footy career so far,” Katoa said.
“I’ve had him as a coach since I was 18 years old in the Tonga team. He knows how to bring me right back to square one when I need it and at the same time he gives me praise when I need it as well.
“That balance has been awesome and is what I do love about him … just the way he can connect with everyone on a personal level and instil a lot of confidence into you.”
Despite missing four of their best forwards, the Dolphins have won their past three games against Canterbury, St George Illawarra and North Queensland with a combined tally of 158-18.
“I think we understand our DNA as a team,” Katoa said.
“We now know we can base our game off hard work, winning the tough stuff first and then we get the joy to play a bit of footy towards the back end of the halves.
“If we can keep the balance right with that and go after teams physically and win games with our shoulders it is going to be great for us in the long run.”
AAP
