Why we’re watching the two NSW No.7s of the next decade and beyond

Thursday night, Suncorp Stadium. Fourteenth against fifteenth, but a match-up I am incredibly excited for, because it’s master v apprentice.

Nathan Cleary against Isaiya Katoa.

Nathan himself tells me he watches Katoa “with admiration” and the assessments of NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley, Queensland icon Johnathan Thurston and Cleary himself say it all. Here’s what the three of them told me about Katoa.

All three mention how straight, or square, young Katoa plays, which sounds simple. But really, it’s so hard because that’s how you get whacked by defenders. It takes courage to do it, otherwise everyone would.

You’re attracting defenders to hit you, and it’s usually big forwards, to make space for your outside men. You’re encouraging those big boys to come and get you, but Isaiya Katoa plays squarer than any playmaker in the game.

Playing it straight: how it plays out

Two plays already this year show just how Katoa does it, digging right into the line against the Broncos before he and Felise Kafusi set up a Max Plath try.

When he plays square, watch how Katoa draws Payne Haas into his defensive movement. Katoa dummies and runs right at Haas, causing Haas to turn his shoulders and body into him because of his run threat.

The outside defender is thinking the same – and that creates room for Katoa’s outside runners. But for that to happen, Katoa has to dig into the line where Payne Haas, who outweighs him by almost 30kg, is ready to bash him. It takes real courage.

Against the Tigers a week earlier, Katoa has the same approach at the line. He looks inside with his body and his eyes, which forces the marker to move onto his inside ball-runner and the first defender to do the same.

He then digs into the line, which draws the outside defender – Api Koroisau – to him. He goes far enough into the defensive line to entice Starford To’a out of position, too. And he’s still got the passing game to cut out his first option out the back to find his centre Herbie Farnworth and create an overlap. That’s an incredibly difficult play, but he makes it look easy.

The master and apprentice match-up

As for Katoa and Cleary, it’s funny how similar they are physically – Isaiya Katoa is 181cm and 91kg, Nathan Cleary is 182cm and 90kg. They are both strong, perfect builds for a No.7.

The learning curves: dumbing it down and stepping up

As well as nailing the pressure moments in the biggest games, Katoa’s other important learning curve is bringing the Dolphins’ two biggest strike weapons – Herbie Farnworth and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow – into the game.

Katoa’s improvement in the past two years has been rapid and, technically, there is no weakness in his game. The next phase is that maturity and ability to take charge in big games.

As for Nathan, there’s no weakness in his game anywhere. My only concern is around his body given the sheer volume of work he puts into his game and the extra kicking and fitness he’s put in.

This next half of his career, he has to be really smart about that extra work to ensure he doesn’t burn his body out.

A battered, bruised and bloodied Nathan Cleary is leading a new-look Panthers.Credit: NRL Imagery

This next phase of his career now is also about understanding how to play with young, inexperienced players and what plays suit each of his newer teammates.

His teammates don’t see the game like him. They just don’t, so Nathan’s going to have to dumb some things down. He has to cuddle his new, younger teammates and help them by playing a simpler game at times. It’s a huge challenge given the superstars Penrith have lost over the years – you can make a quality team out of them by now.

The Panthers get Dylan Edwards back at fullback, but Cleary has a new five-eighth in Blaize Talagi and a new No.9, with Luke Sommerton in for Mitch Kenny. So this is a test of how he adjusts for those new players still working out Penrith’s system.

Already I rate Katoa as fifth among the current halfbacks in the NRL – behind Cleary, Jahrome Hughes, Daly Cherry-Evans and Jarome Luai. Mitchell Moses slots into that group as well when he’s fit, but Katoa leads the next group of No.7s for me.

Nathan’s now 27 and who knows when he finishes up as NSW halfback, whether it’s in five or six years or further down the track. But I’ve got no doubt that Katoa is the next Blues No.7 and he will have a tenure like Nathan’s for at least five to six years.

I think the Dolphins have got an upset in them in front of a big home crowd at Suncorp Stadium. I saw them turning a corner last week by beating the Gold Coast and I won’t be taking my eyes off the two No.7s.

Joey’s top: Dolphins by four.
First try-scorer: Jack Bostock
Man of the match: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Scrap the tiers, build the global game and expand in New Zealand

Still on Isaiya Katoa, I think he should play his entire career for Tonga. Imagine the impact he could have on that national side as a career halfback while representing his parents and his heritage. He also sees himself as a New South Welshman and will play Origin.

Isaiya Katoa the fan favourite.Credit: NRL Imagery

For mine, the tier-one and tier-two system at international level has to be scrapped.

The current State of Origin eligibility rules should still be applied – so if you’re in NSW or Queensland before high school or the age of 13, you can play for the Blues or Maroons.

But once you choose which country you want to play for, you can’t change that.

The argument of Origin being a selection trial for Australia is undermined by the nature of our game and the Polynesian influence on the playing ranks. Given the way the game is going with 52 per cent of players boasting Pasifika heritage, they’re going to keep dominating.

And if you make them choose between countries like Tonga and Samoa or Origin, then, with the greatest of respect, you’ll end up with reserve grade front-rowers playing for NSW and Queensland in 20 years’ time.

Tweaking the rules would not only help international rugby league, it would also keep Origin as the pinnacle of the game. The country that would be hardest hit by this change would be New Zealand, who are already losing players to Origin and the Pacific nations.

So this is why the next expansion team should be from the south island of New Zealand, based out of Christchurch, to tap into New Zealand’s talent stocks and develop more Kiwis to play NRL week-in, week-out and keep their national side strong.

Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.