EXCLUSIVE: Bennett’s Tough Love Sparks Young Dolphin’s Journey to Stardom

Wayne Bennett has left a trail of discarded rugby league players behind him that rivals the number of dinners some folks have enjoyed.

The real measure of a player’s character is revealed in their response to adversity.

If that response serves as an indication of a young player’s potential in the sport, Isaiya Katoa is undoubtedly poised to achieve great things, living up to the expectations of legends like Andrew Johns.

Katoa emerged as one of the standout players of the 2024 NRL season, drawing weekly acclaim from the eighth Immortal himself, who confidently suggested the Dolphins’ prodigy is on a path to becoming a 300-game sensation.

Throughout the season, he proudly donned the No. 7 jersey until a shocking twist came just before the final match. Supercoach Bennett made the surprising decision to bench the 20-year-old.

In the subsequent week, as the Dolphins faced the Knights with a finals spot on the line, Katoa found himself completely omitted from the squad.

Ultimately, the Dolphins fell short, and with that, their season came to an end. Many young athletes might return home feeling disillusioned, but Katoa is not your average player.

“Getting dropped in the last round was a bit of a let-down,” he shared with Wide World of Sports.

“However, Wayne mentioned that this experience would benefit me in the long run.”

“He’s always emphasised the importance of my growth as a player over the next five to ten years instead of focusing solely on immediate outcomes.”

Katoa’s ability to maintain a broader perspective clearly impressed Bennett, a mentor to many of rugby league’s legends.

“I began to notice a few weeks before that I was losing focus during matches,” Katoa reflected as he readies for the 2025 season—his third in the NRL.

“I was making uncharacteristic errors, mainly due to lapses in concentration. Simple mistakes like kicking out on the full or dropping passes—just little things.”

“Wayne and I discussed this, and he pointed out that I had let concerns about too many factors overwhelm me, distracting me from getting the fundamentals right. That shifted my mindset entirely.”

“When it came to the decisive moments, we were fighting Newcastle for a position in the finals—the exact situations you want as a halfback,” Katoa added.

“If anything, I emerged from that experience with a more positive outlook and a stronger desire to perform well with Tonga.”

The decision to sideline Katoa marked the end of his tenure under Bennett’s coaching. The seasoned mentor has since relocated to Sydney to lead the Rabbitohs.

However, the valuable lessons Bennett imparted remain fresh in Katoa’s mind and are already influencing his performance on the field.

Katoa successfully led Tonga under incoming Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf to the Pacific Cup final against Australia, coming agonisingly close to securing a remarkable win.

It was during the Tongan training camp that news surfaced about the Dolphins’ pursuit of seasoned halfback Ben Hunt.

Recently, the club has also been linked to Eels playmaker Dylan Brown, who is reportedly seeking a lucrative contract of up to $1.2 million per season.

Dolphins CEO Terry Reader expressed strong support for Katoa and his fellow teammates in an interview on Nine’s Today show’s recent segment.

This endorsement has left the soon-to-be 21-year-old buzzing with excitement about his future at Redcliffe.

“It’s been fantastic—there’s been great clarity about the direction they want to take with me going forward,” he remarked.

“Whether it’s Woolfy or Terry, they’ve always instilled immense confidence in me, allowing me to focus on my game without worrying about external distractions.”

Reflecting on the Ben Hunt rumours while at Tongan camp, Woolf reassured him, saying, “No matter what the speculation, I’ll be the coach next year, and that halfback position is yours to earn.”

“Hearing that really put my mind at ease. He didn’t say it was automatically my spot, but he gave me the confidence that there’s still a place for me to fight for in the pre-season.”

“He’s always been upfront about that, keeping my position clear and constant.”

The Dolphins are set to kick off their season against Bennett’s Rabbitohs on March 7.