Blue in waiting: How Katoa’s masterclass orchestrated Roosters’ demise

Isaiya Katoa has ensured he remains at the forefront of New South Wales consideration with a stunning masterclass against the Sydney Roosters to thrust the Dolphins into the NRL’s top four.

The Dolphins halfback, called into Blues camp this week as cover for Mitchell Moses, pulled the strings in his side’s 48-10 triumph in a clash missing 12 players through State of Origin duties between the outfits.

This was a case of the game’s best rising No.7 against one of its elder statesmen in Daly Cherry-Evans. And with a try, a hand in several others, and 687 kicking metres, Katoa was in a class of his own.

The 22-year-old’s early kicking game was composed and perfect for the wet conditions, rarely straying from end-over-end bombs aimed at Sydney winger Tommy Talau. That pressure eventually forced an error, with the Dolphins’ maestro throwing a lavish dummy to sell Cherry-Evans on the next set to score the opening try.

The way he engaged the line opened up five-eighth Kodi Nikorima, with the Kiwi playing pivotal roles in tries to Herbie Farnworth and Trai Fuller. He even pulled out a brilliant second-half trick – chipping for his No.6 to score, with Jeremy Marshall-King, Connelly Lemuelu, Brad Schneider and Tevita Naufahu all scoring afterwards.

Sydney would have been frustrated to be denied the opening points, after Salesi Foketi was pinned by the bunker for a double movement – Francis Molo clinging to him, but the Roosters lock appeared to have momentum on his side.

However, from that moment, they faltered against the Dolphins’ charge under Katoa’s guidance, while also losing Reece Foley and Hugo Savala to head injury assessments. Consolation tries to debutants Rex Bassingthwaighte and Toby Rodwell added some respectability to the score.

Nathan Cleary may have a mortgage on the New South Wales halfback jumper, but his former Panthers prodigy will remain hot on his heels.

“It was great for him to get that experience, getting to go and hang around guys like Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses, and I think that’s all part of his development,” Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said of Katoa’s stint in Blues camp on the eve of Friday night’s encounter.

“He might only pick up one or two little things, but they’re all little things that come back and help us as well.”

The Dolphins will, however, be sweating on the fitness of goal-kicking winger Jamayne Isaako, who pulled out of the final tackle of the game, reeling in pain and clutching at his arm.

Fresh off inking a one-year contract extension to remain at the Dolphins, Fuller proved once again he was a cut abov