EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Johns Shares ‘Burn Him’ Concerns About Isaiya Katoa’s Possible Origin Debut, Evoking Memories of Jarrod Mullen

Blues icon Andrew Johns has voiced his concerns regarding Isaiya Katoa stepping in for Nathan Cleary in the upcoming Origin III, making a comparison to the debut of Jarrod Mullen.

Mullen burst onto the NRL scene amidst comparisons to Johns after taking over as Newcastle’s halfback. With just 31 games under his belt in 2007, he was brought in as NSW halfback for Origin I.

Despite the Blues leading 18-6 at half-time, they faltered, ultimately losing 25-18. This marked Mullen’s sole appearance in Origin.

With Cleary facing a race against time to recover for game three, discussions are intensifying around his potential replacement should he not be fit. Katoa’s name features prominently alongside Luke Metcalf, with the option of Jarome Luai shifting to halfback and Matt Burton stepping up to fill the five-eighth role.

While Johns believes Katoa is ready for the challenge, he carries concerns influenced by Mullen’s experience. “He’s good to go, but I can’t shake the thought of Jarrod Mullen,” Johns expressed on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.

“When Jarrod was called up in 2007, he was in his early twenties, and I believe it impacted him negatively – it affected his confidence… Isaiya Katoa is ready, but you don’t want to risk burning him out.”

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Johns’ worries are compounded by the fact that both Katoa and Luai predominantly operate on the left side of the field.

“While Katoa is capable of playing on either side, he feels more at home on the left,” he noted.

He further stated that Metcalf plays on the right but that Katoa is something “special”.

“He has the talent to handle the pressure, but you want to ensure he isn’t overburdened too soon… My concerns stem from how it affected Jarrod back then—the anticipation, the pressure, and the end result was a loss,” he reflected.

“Joining the team with the series hanging in the balance is an immense amount of stress.”

At the conclusion of round 12, as the statistics were finalised, Metcalf led the Dally M leaderboard with 31 points, with Will Kennedy trailing by just two points. Katoa was tied for fifth place with 23 points.

Currently, the Warriors sit third on the table, while the Dolphins are sixth.

While both Metcalf and Katoa are showing promising form, the Blues are fervently hoping for Cleary’s fitness ahead of selection.

Cleary is not set to play for the Panthers against the Warriors at 3pm (AEST) on Saturday, but it was a decision made prior given that his father and team coach Ivan opted to rest all Origin players for the trip to New Zealand.

“Nathan has been dealing with a minor groin issue. I’m not entirely sure about his status right now, but it doesn’t seem to be serious,” Ivan Cleary mentioned in Auckland on Friday.

The Panthers have endured a challenging schedule during this phase of the season, facing a quick turnaround between Saturday’s match against the Warriors and a critical clash against the leading Bulldogs next Thursday night.

This five-day interval raises further concerns about Cleary’s involvement in that match, especially with the NSW squad set to be announced three days later on Sunday, June 29.

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