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Dolphins star Katoa primed for 'hostile' Warriors crowd
Joel Gould, AAP • September 9th, 2026 6:00 am
Isaiya Katoa | Photo: Photosport
Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa intends to up the ante with his running game in the finals after advice from league legend Cooper Cronk about how he can develop further as a playmaker.
Katoa, a self-confessed "footy head", has modelled his approach on Penrith maestro Nathan Cleary, who has taken his game to another level in that regard during the Panthers' dynasty of four premierships in five seasons.
The Dolphins play the Warriors on Saturday in Auckland in a qualifying final and co-captain Katoa will be crucial in the outcome.
Cleary averaged 78 running metres in his first five seasons in the NRL but across the past six years has lifted that to 110m. It is not the raw numbers but the impact Cleary has when he runs that most interests Katoa.
Katoa, who was in the Panthers' system as a junior, is constantly seeking improvement.
"I have spoken to Cooper Cronk over the course of the year, where I catch up with him about my own game and little things I can continually improve," Katoa told AAP.
"A big part of that is my running game and Cooper is one of the biggest in terms of driving that because it keeps defenders honest.
"As a halfback you want to constantly put the defence in different minds.
"My ball-playing is something I pride myself on, but I have noticed Nathan is running the footy a lot more. I want to slowly incorporate that more into my game.
"I have had a few conversations with Cooper … and a better ball player is a better runner and a better runner is a better ball player".
Cooper Cronk produced the goods when he ran the ball | Photo: Joe Castro/AAP
Katoa trained at the Panthers as a teenager and learned a lot from Cleary by watching how he would stay behind after training sessions and work on his craft.
Now the 22-year-old is watching and learning on the run and absorbing the past, when four-time title winner Cronk was in his pomp for Melbourne, Sydney Roosters, Queensland and Australia.
"I am such a footy head. I am constantly sitting at home and watching footy. If it is not the team we are playing this week, I will go back and watch great players like Cooper Cronk on You Tube," Katoa said.
"I have seen how he would take the line on … exactly what he is preaching. When he was a run threat it opened up his ball playing and whenever he took it to the line to ball-play, it opened up a run for him."
Nathan Cleary's running game since 2020 has developed in leaps and bounds | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
In his initial Panthers years Katoa learned by watching Cleary's attention to detail on the training field.
The NRL playing arena has taught further lessons, particularly when Cleary landed winning field goals on two occasions, as has Origin camp when Katoa joined the NSW squad.
"Nathan is constantly wanting to be on the ball and constantly trying things to get his team into a good position, or doing actions that put him in position to go and win the game," Katoa said.
"He has kicked two winning field goals against us and I have been part of both of those games. The biggest learning I took out of it is how involved he is. One thing he talked about in those Origin camps is how present he is in those moments.
"We have got to treat (Saturday's final) as walking towards the challenge of the Warriors and accepting that we are going towards a hostile crowd, but embracing the experience of playing in our first finals game ... and knowing we have a good challenge ahead of us to go one step further."
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