Fittler, Daley, Isaiya Katoa: How Dolphins secured steal of the century in gun young playmaker

Isaiya Katoa might be the best 21-year-old talent since Brad Fittler, and with the young gun locked in for the next four years, the Dolphins have the steal of century on their books.

Question: If Lachlan Galvin is worth the $1 million-a-year that the Wests Tigers offered him, what is the true value of boom Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa?

Answer: A lot more than the Dolphins are paying him for the next four seasons.

The 21-year-old playmaker produced another blinder on Saturday night as Dolphins captain to engineer a 50-28 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Last year Katoa’s former agent Liam Ayoub, who now works as head of recruitment at the Canterbury Bulldogs, extended his contract at the Dolphins for four years.

Isaiya Katoa has been brilliant for the Dolphins - and might be the bargain buy of the NRL. Picture: Getty Images

The deal starts at roughly $600,000 and is gradually upgraded to $700,000 in the final year.

This is a steal for the Dolphins, almost the deal of the century.

For all the hype around Galvin, Katoa is by far the better all-round player.

He is without doubt the most exciting young footballer I’ve seen at 21 years of age since the likes of Brad Fittler and Laurie Daley first emerged at the Panthers and the Raiders.

It’s interesting that the man who did the deal to lock down Katoa at the Dolphins at such a bargain price was Peter O’Sullivan, the club’s former recruitment boss.

This is the same guy who has been hammered by all for paying $13 million over 10 years to sign Parramatta Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown at the Newcastle Knights.

Lachlan Galvin turned down a $1 million deal with the Tigers before joining the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

Dylan Brown will leave the Eels to link with Newcastle on a $13 million, 10-year deal. Picture: Getty Images

That Katoa is performing so confidently and so stylishly in a Dolphins side that has produced 50 points in three of their past four games is all the more remarkable considering the club’s injury situation.

This is a side that is without Daniel Saifiti, Thomas Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Max Plath and Felise Kaufusi.

Many halfbacks would crumble without so many key forwards to get middle field domination.

Yet every week this outstanding young footballer aims up and delivers.

Even when he lost his experienced halves partner Kodi Nikorima during the second half.

I have never met this guy but they tell me he is as impressive off the field as he is on it.

So humble and so keen to learn and advance his game.

It’s a major reason why Daley has decided to call him into camp as the Blues prepare for the State of Origin decider against the Maroons.

There is no question he will one day wear the Blues jersey.

So what is the former Penrith Panthers junior really worth on the eve of the NRL’s expansion.

There is no doubt he is a franchise player.

Dolphins star Isaiya Katoa will join the Blues Origin camp. Picture: NRL Photos

Even at 21, you could build a football club around him.

The Dolphins might be paying him ‘unders’ right now for what he is producing week in, week out.

He is now up there with Cleary, Mitchell Moses and Jahrome Hughes as the game’s best playmakers.

His next deal will be worth at least double what he is earning right now.

In fact, who is to say down the track he can’t become the NRL’s first $2 million player. That’s how special he is.

Originally published as Fittler, Daley, Isaiya Katoa: How Dolphins secured steal of the century in gun young playmaker