Dolphins veteran Mark Nicholls believes Isaiya Katoa is ready to answer a State of Origin SOS, and would rise to the occasion of filling Nathan Clearyโs void.
Cleary has been under an injury cloud ahead of the series decider on July 9, hampered by a groin concern which limited his output for New South Wales in game two.
He has been named to return for the Panthers this week in a Blues boost given Mitch Moses remains sidelined with a calf injury.
Isaiya Katoa has guided the Dolphins out of a winless opening month to the season, despite a plethora of season-ending injuries in the squad.Credit: Getty Images
Should the four-time premiership winner fail to get through his comeback, Katoa has emerged as a shock successor, with Luke Metcalf, Matt Burton, Nicho Hynes and Adam Reynolds other options.
Katoa has spearheaded Tonga since the 2022 World Cup, taking the island nation to the Pacific Championship final last year, while he assumed his clubโs captaincy against Newcastle in the absence of Tom Gilbert and Felise Kaufusi, and will do so again on Saturday against the Rabbitohs.
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While NRL Immortal Andrew Johns raised fears throwing the 21-year-old into the furnace could be detrimental to his development, Nicholls believed he had the fortitude to respond to the occasion.
โHe could do the job for sure. Iโd love to see him [do it] and it would be great for us if he could get that experience and come back to the club a better player,โ Nicholls said.
โWith the position he has played he has been our unnatural leader for three years now, thatโs his job as the halfback to direct the team around. This year we have seen him play that 50th game milestone, [and] a lot of players say they donโt feel like a first grader until they play 50.
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