Isaiya Katoa handed State of Origin honour as NSW get good news on injury front
Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa will reportedly be named in the extended squad for NSW for State of Origin 3 on Sunday night, a huge reward for his brilliant form in 2025. The is reporting that Katoa will be part of Laurie Daley's 20-player squad when it's named later on Sunday.
The 21-year-old is little chance to play in the decider unless there's a late injury disaster, but Daley is said to be keen on getting him into camp and the Origin environment with an eye to the future. Katoa is viewed as Nathan Cleary's halfback successor for NSW, and could have a long career in the sky blue jersey.
The youngster had another stellar game on Saturday night as the Dolphins thrashed the Rabbitohs 50-28, laying on three try assists and having a hand in everything. He's shown he wouldn't be overawed if called upon to play Origin in the near future.
And while he's a Blue in waiting, he recently admitted he's spent plenty if time watching video of Queensland's greatest spine combinations. The Dolphins have cracked 50 points in three of their last four games, as well as a 44-8 hiding of the ladder-leading Bulldogs.
"We have a spine meeting where our nine, six, seven and one come together," Katoa said after his man-of-the-match display against the Dragons in Round 14. "Some of the clips we look at are Cameron Smith, JT (Johnathan Thurston), Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater all connecting (for the Maroons).
"The more they connected the more success their team had. We are trying to build that into our own games and still try to play to our individual strengths. It is a work in progress for us."
Meanwhile, Jarome Luai has been cleared to take his place in the halves alongside Cleary for Game 3 in Sydney. Luai was ruled out of the Wests Tigers' loss to Manly on Friday night after a boil on his chest became infected. It required a stint in hospital, but he's no chance of missing the Origin decider.
The Blues are reportedly happy to bring Luai into camp even if he's not ready to train, and would be fine with him not taking to the field in their first session on Wednesday. Tigers coach Benji Marshall painted an optimistic picture over Luai's health on Friday night, believing he could have played if the game was later in the weekend.
"I am pretty sure he will be OK for NSW if they pick him," Marshall said. "He got an infection yesterday and didn't come to training. He said he was going to be all right to play. And then he went to hospital and had fevers and the infection got a lot worse. If it was another 24 or 48 hours Jarome would have been right to play. But he wasn't good for today."
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Brian To'o's status is still up in the air after he picked up a knee injury on Thursday night, while Cleary got through the game unscathed despite still not goal-kicking due to a groin issue.
For the Maroons, Valentine Holmes has been cleared of injury and will be available for the decider, despite picking up a cork to the leg in the Dragons' win on Saturday night. He didn't take the last two shots at goal, sending a scare through Billy Slater and Queensland officials.
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