NRL Pacific Championship final: Tonga confident Isaiya Katoa can handle Kangaroos

Tonga’s coach Kristian Woolf has backed his inexperienced halfback Isaiya Katoa to turn the tables on the Kangaroos and lead his side to victory in Sunday’s Pacific Championship final.

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has backed boom playmaker Isaiya Katoa to handle the biggest test of his career in Sunday’s Pacific Championships final against Australia.

Isaiya the Iceman became a national hero last Saturday when he blasted the 75th-minute field goal that shattered New Zealand’s title defence, 25-24, and propelled second-tier Tonga to a historic final at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium.

The 20-year-old Katoa has played just 44 NRL games and will give up a decade’s experience to Australian halfback rival Mitchell Moses, the Eels wizard who knows every blade of his CommBank home ground.

Australia’s big boppers will attempt to pressure Katoa into error but Woolf is confident his young playmaker has the class and composure to steer Tonga to the greatest victory in their Test history.

“I think he will cope just fine,” Woolf said of Katoa, who was outpointed by Moses in Australia’s 18-0 defeat of Tonga in the series opener.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 02: Isaiya Katoa of Tonga celebrates with fans after winning the men's 2024 Rugby League Pacific Championship match between New Zealand Kiwis and Tonga XIII at Go Media Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

“If I look at his game against Australia three weeks ago, I thought he played really well.

“Despite the loss, he was very influential for us, he controlled a lot of our play, he controlled a lot of our kicking.

“The Australians obviously tried really hard to target him because he topped our tackle count as well and did a great job there.”

Katoa plays his ninth international for Mate Ma’a and Woolf lauded the Dolphins half-back’s ability to fight back against New Zealand after some unforced errors against the Kangaroos at Suncorp Stadium.

“He got some kick-offs wrong and there were a couple of general plays that he didn’t quite execute (against Australia),” Woolf said.

“But what I really like about his overall performance in this tournament is that he came off that loss and backed himself again against New Zealand.

“He got the plays right against New Zealand.

“That shows what sort of mindset he’s got, what sort of player he is, and I think he’s right up for the challenge this week.”

Tonga’s head coach Kristian Woolf has backed his half to handle the pressure of a final. Picture: Getty Images

Woolf has witnessed Katoa’s development first-hand over the past two years as an assistant to super coach Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins.

Woolf will take charge of the Dolphins next season and says he has been blown away by Katoa’s maturity for a rising playmaker.

“He’s a very talented young man,” the Tonga mentor said.

“I think his best attribute is that he’s a very level-headed young man and he wants to be the best player he can be.

“That’s going to make him successful.”

Tonga famously recorded their first ever win over Australia with a 16-12 boilover in Auckland in 2019 and Woolf says it’s crucial his side isn’t overawed by the might of the Kangaroos. He believes Tonga have the forward muscle to rattle the Kangaroos’ cage.

“We once couldn’t have dreamt of being on the same field as Australia,” he said.

“We’re confident in what we can do. We have showed that we’ve got some belief.

“The key is always the battle in the middle and that’s obviously a strength of ours.

“It comes down to who can do those little things the best, and that’s what we’re going to aim to do.”

SPECIAL AUSSIE CONNECTION INSPIRING MAL’S KANGAROOS CULTURAL OVERHAUL

- Dean Ritchie

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has employed a patriotic theme for his Australia players throughout the Pacific Championships which included an Indigenous smoking ceremony at Sydney’s iconic Opera House on Friday afternoon.

Meninga has wanted his team to connect with Australian society’s pride, history and values through helping disadvantaged kids at a Sunshine Coast PCYC to supporting the country’s renowned nippers at a Central Coast surf lifesaving club.

It’s all part of Meninga’s grand build-up to Sunday’s Pacific Championships final against powerful Tonga at a 30,000-seat sold-out CommBank Stadium at Parramatta. The massive finale caps one of the greatest seasons rugby league has ever experienced.

The Kangaroos gather at Bennelong Point ahead of the Pacific Championship final.

This masthead secured an exclusive photo of Australian players learning and participating in the ancient Indigenous smoking custom at Bennelong Point.

The team also held its official jersey presentation inside the Opera House.

The Kangaroos were there for a smoking ceremony at the Opera House.

“I think it’s really important that we understand the values of Australia, around what we’re passionate about. It’s a multicultural, diverse country. We want to celebrate our culture and what’s iconic in Australia,” Meninga said.

“We had a cleansing ceremony at Bennelong Point, the Opera House. (Woollarawarre) Bennelong was a huge conduit between the First Nations culture and Europeans – an (Indigenous) leader when Europeans first settled.

“Except for First Nations and Torres Strait Islanders, we all come from different walks of life and ancestral nations so it’s really important that we celebrate that.

“It’s all about paying respect to the multicultural diversity we have here in Australia. The Opera House was borne out of a meeting place. It is iconic globally.

“We held our jersey presentation at the Opera House with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background – it was a special occasion.”

During camp before game one, players supported 25 underprivileged indigenous kids who came from five communities – including Cape York, Deception Bay, Rockhampton and Aurukun - through the Queensland PCYC.

“They are kids doing the right thing - they’re going to school every day even though they are in dysfunctional situations - so this was part of a reward program, to bring them to Mooloolaba and we had a really good engagement with them,” Meninga said.

“We tried to inspire the young indigenous kids. We have that social responsibility as the Kangaroos. They admire rugby league players, rugby league plays a really important part in their young lives. A lot of them aspire to be rugby league players.”

This week, players encouraged and swam with nippers at Shelly Beach, near the team’s Central Coast base.

Australian squad members Reece Robson and Bradman ventured out in a lifesaving rescue boat with Harry Grant being a former nipper.

“We had a great time with the nippers,” Meninga said. “That was also about connecting with our history. Rugby league started in Australia in 1908 and the surf lifesaving movement started in Bondi about 1907. We all began around the same time.

“Surf lifesaving and rugby league have a synergy. People play rugby league through winter and help surf living-saving clubs in the summer months. There is a huge connection. Surf lifesaving clubs play a crucial role in the lives of Australians.”

While in New Zealand last week, Australian players were afforded an emotional Maori welcome.

“We paid respect to the Maori culture,” Meninga said. “A Maori elder talked on our behalf which is unheard of in Maori culture. It’s called a Powhiri, the ultimate sign of respect,” he said.

“That displays huge respect for Australians, and the part we have played in their history. That was unbelievable and a huge honour.”

Unbelievably, according to TAB, Australia will start hot $1.14 favourites to win the final - Tonga is paying $5.80 - but most expect the final to be close, gruelling and fierce.