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Live sport on SN this weekendKatoa credits axing by Bennett in 2024 as turning point
Joel Gould, AAP •  September 6th, 2026 12:24 pm
Isaiya Katoa is now the Dolphins main man after learning valuable lessons on his journey | Photo: AAP
When Wayne Bennett dropped Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa for the crucial final round match of their 2024 season the rising star was accepting.
Looking back two years later, as the third-placed Dolphins prepare to play in their first finals series, Katoa regards his axing as a turning point in his career.
The 22-year-old Dolphins co-captain will enter the finals as one of the game's best young halves and the linchpin of the side.
Playmaker Isaiya Katoa (l) will carry the hopes of Dolphins fans on his shoulders in the finals | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
In 2024, the Dolphins were on the cusp of finals and Katoa, who had started in 21 games straight, was not playing his best when Bennett relegated him to the bench ahead of the penultimate round against Brisbane, won 40-6 by the Dolphins.
Then in a complete shock to outsiders, Bennett dropped Katoa altogether for the team to play Newcastle away when the Dolphins needed to just win to make the playoffs. They lost 14-6.
"That was a massive lesson. I remember us having a conversation throughout the week and honestly it was the right move by Wayne," Katoa told AAP of Bennett's call.
"I wasn't playing good footy at the time and I was making a lot of uncharacteristic errors. It was one of the biggest lessons I have learned, because you want to be in those big games and fighting for a top eight spot.
"If Wayne didn't do that I wouldn't have developed as much as I have."
Former Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett did Isaiya Katoa a huge favour when he dropped him | Photo: Darren England/AAP
Katoa is wise beyond his years and revealed his long-term thinking when, while a teenager at Penrith, he decided to join the Dolphins.
"It was a little bit weird because I had a Zoom meeting due to COVID with Wayne, our CEO Terry Reader and Peter O'Sullivan who was the recruitment manager at the time," he said.
"The conversation was about how Wayne would look after me and make sure he would develop me as a first grader.
"He always had this plan where he said, 'I don't want you to be the best player right now. I want you to be the best player in four or five years time' and continue on that upward trajectory.
"That is what gave me so much confidence and it gave my family and my dad confidence to take that leap and come over to the Dolphins."
Isaiya Katoa is glad that he joined the Dolphins as a teenager | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Under his current Dolphins and Tonga coach Kristian Woolf he has taken massive strides forward with a mentor who has given him one of the most vital ingredients.
"Confidence," Katoa said.
"If there is one word to sum up how much Woolfy has done for me it is definitely to show the confidence in me to go out and be myself, take control and play exactly what I see.
"Making me co-captain was a big part of that too. I think that naturally happens when you are halfback of a team but it was a sign to me that Woolfy has complete confidence in me."
Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has unlocked the best in star half Isaiya Katoa | Photo: Darren England/AAP
Katoa's gratitude is summed up in his actions and taking the Dolphins to a maiden title is now his aim.
"I couldn't be more proud to be a Dolphin and obviously an inaugural Dolphin as well," he said.
"They took a chance with me when I first came out of high school so for me it is about paying the Dolphins back and making sure I do everything I possibly can to bring a premiership to this club.
"It is very special we get to go to our first finals series and we are very excited. One thing for sure is that we are not going to take that for granted."
