Isaiya Katoa leads the Dolphins to a demolition of the Dragons
Kristian Woolf’s Dolphins have rocketed into the NRL’s top eight after Isaiya Katoa led his team in an attacking rout against the hapless Dragons.
Kristian Woolf’s Dolphins have rocketed into the NRL’s top eight after NSW Origin contender Isaiya Katoa continued his stunning season in a 56-6 demolition of the dreadful Dragons on Friday night.
Katoa shot to the top of the NRL’s try-assist leaderboard with a commanding performance at Suncorp Stadium that catapulted the Dolphins into the top eight for the first time this year.
With the black clouds of the Wayne Bennett hoodoo finally clearing after a 0-4 start to the season, the Dolphins have won three of their past four matches to claw their way back into finals contention.
The Redcliffe club flogged ladder-leading Canterbury 44-8 a fortnight ago and proved it was no fluke by brutally disposing of St George Illawarra after bursting out to a 28-2 halftime lead.
They have scored a combined 100 points in their past two matches and conceded just 14.
The 10-try rout was the club’s biggest win in their three-year history and exposed Shane Flanagan’s Dragons as finals pretenders.
“We had a good feel about us at captain’s run,” Woolf said.
“We’re moving the ball well and had smiles on faces.
“I loved our physicality at the start and we backed it up with some good footy.
“It’s a great performance but it’s important we don’t fall in love with ourselves.
“We’ve come a long way and improved a lot but we’ve got a long way to go.”
CLASSY KATOA
While the Sydney-centric NRL has been obsessed with Tigers wooden spoon prodigy Lachlan Galvin’s move to the Bulldogs, Katoa has been quietly going about his business in relative anonymity at Redcliffe.
Immortal Andrew Johns is an unabashed fan of Katoa and now the rest of the NRL is starting to take notice after 57 games.
At just 21 and in his third NRL season, Katoa is leading the competition for try-assists (18) after creating another three four-pointers in the Dragons drubbing.
Katoa’s booming second half 40-20 to get the Dolphins out of trouble was a thing of beauty and he was well-supported by five-eighth Kodi Nikorima, who scored a try and created two others.
The Blues have a settled halves pairing of Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses but Katoa must surely be next in line for a NSW Origin debut.
“I talk about Isaiya most weeks,” Woolf said.
“He’s an outstanding young man and football player.
“He wants to be the best player he can be. He is working at it all the time.
“He comes off disappointed about a couple of things because he wants to keep improving.
DREADFUL DRAGONS
A fortnight ago the Dragons ambushed the Broncos at Suncorp in a 30-26 boilover built on stinging defence, discipline and a clever game plan.
It seemed like a lifetime ago. This was St George Illawarra back to its worst.
The Dragons lacked discipline, cohesion and desire in an insipid performance that saw them fall out of the NRL’s top eight.
The Dolphins scored too many tries with ease against a Dragons team that simply didn’t turn up, with no forward reaching 100m.
To make matters worse, returning winger Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) left the field after 20 minutes and Raymond Faitala-Mariner suffered an asthma attack.
“A few things went wrong,” Flanagan said.
“It wasn’t up to standard. We can make excuses but it wasn’t up to standard and we’ll deal with it.
“It’s disappointing. We will review it. It’s not acceptable for the Dragons.
“I’ll make sure (it’s a blip), don’t you worry.”
JUMPING JACK
Leaping Dolphins winger Bostock lodged a contender for try-of-the-year.
Bostock used his 194cm frame to soar over rival Nathan Lawson, latch on to a Nikorima cross-field kick and plant the ball.
It was like Israel Folau was back in the NRL.
Last year’s Dally M rookie of the year, Bostock has had moments of madness this season but his talent is undeniable and he can be a huge threat for the Dolphins.
Fellow winger Jamayne Isaako, fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, backrower Connelly Lemuelu and centre Herbie Farnworth bagged doubles in the cakewalk that looked like a training run at times.
RELIVE OUR FRIDAY NIGHT BLOG BELOW
More Coverage
Originally published as Isaiya Katoa leads the Dolphins to a demolition of the Dragons
Bad news Bears? Ch 7’s war with NRL’s newest CEO exposed
Channel 7 dominates the West Australian media market, and their coverage of the unveiling of Mal Meninga as the inaugural Perth Bears coach has revealed that the code’s newest club faces a major obstacle.
NSW enforcer reveals regrets over 45-year-old State of Origin lie
Les Boyd never dodged a confrontation when he was on the footy field, but the former rugby league hard man told a fib to avoid playing in the first ever Origin game - a fib he still regrets to this day.