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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 18 February 2004 Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (14 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Five-eighth, Halfback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 19 April 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Isaiya Katoa (born 18 February 2004) is a New Zealand born Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth or halfback for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Katoa 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]
Katoa 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.
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]
Katoa 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]
In 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]
| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |  Dolphins | 22 | 2 | 8 |
| Totals | 22 | 2 | 8 |
*stats correct as of the end of the 2023 season
Kenneath Bromwich is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL), and New Zealand at international level.
Ricky Leutele is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Leigh Leopards in the Betfred Super League.
Jarrod Wallace is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Mark Nicholls is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Anthony Milford is an Australian Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth and halfback for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Fa'amanu Brown is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback and hooker for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and has represented Samoa and New Zealand at international level. He has also played at five-eighth and lock.
Felise Kaufusi is a professional rugby league footballer from New Zealand who plays as a second-rower for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL), and has played for Tonga and Australia at international level.
Sione Katoa is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.
Jamayne Isaako is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a goal-kicking winger for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). At the 2023 Dally M Awards, Isaako received the Ken Irvine Medal for being the "Top Tryscorer of the Year". He was also the "Top Pointscorer of the Year", and named as Best Winger of the Year along with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak from the New Zealand Warriors.
Sione Katoa is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays on the wing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL.
Sean O' Sullivan is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Poasa Faamausili is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who is contracted to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs as a prop in the 2024 National Rugby League (NRL) season.
Ray Stone is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). He previously played for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.
Fanitesi Niu is an Australian-born Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or centre for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Keaon Koloamatangi is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, also known by the nickname of "Hammer", is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Tui Katoa is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays on the wing for North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup.
The Dolphins are a professional rugby league football team, based in the Redcliffe Peninsula area of the City of Moreton Bay, that competes in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL).
The 2023 Dolphins season is historically the inaugural season for the Dolphins club in the professional National Rugby League (NRL) football competition in Australia. With Wayne Bennett as head coach and Jesse Bromwich as the regular team captain, the Dolphins competed in the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership but did not qualify for the finals. Nevertheless, they finished in thirteenth place, ahead of four other established teams.
