KATOA KILLING IT
After Isaiya Katoa outmanoeuvred Mitchell Moses to lead the Dolphins to victory on Thursday day night, Matty Johns declared the 21-year-old Dolphins halfback has what it takes to become the best player in the game. Katoa had a hand in two tries in the 20-16 win while also running for 51 metres from seven carries that produced three tackle busts. But it was the opening try of the match that caught the attention of former Blues and Kangaroos half Johns.
“You do not see better ball-playing than this, young Isaiya Katoa, by telling a lie with the football, going out, back in then back out again, that is, honestly, that is so difficult to do,” Johns said. “The amount of time that kid has because he has beautiful hands, that’s just great football, that’s ball-playing from a bloke in his 30s. “He’s very good at reacting to the defence, obviously his football IQ is sky high. “I think he’s got the capability to be the best player in the game.”
NRL premiership winner Byran Fletcher echoed the sentiment.
“He’s been doing this since he first came into first grade, so he must have been, as a kid, he must have worked really hard on his game,” Fletcher said. “Because when he came into first grade he was doing this sort of stuff and he got them out of this tonight. “His kicking game got them back into the game in the second half, he’s a marvel. He’s a 21-year-old with 15 more years in front of him, he’s going to be special.”