'Bit sore': Dolphins cop cruel blow as young half injured
The Dolphins will be without young playmaker Isaiya Katoa when they face the Tigers on Saturday as he continues to rehabilitate a lingering knee injury.
Katoa suffered a minor injury to his knee last week against the Sydney Roosters, but managed to play through the pain and help his team record a 48-10 win.
Isaiya Katoa seen training for the Dolphins. Bradley Kanaris
Kristian Woolf was hopeful the 22-year-old would be able to return to action against the Tigers on Saturday, having completed all training with the team.
However, he has since pulled up lame and been forced to the bench.
“We really didn’t think he was going to be missing this week,” Woolf said.
“We are very confident that he will be available next week. He was running and feeling fine earlier in the week, he just was a little bit sore.
“I didn’t want him out there worried about an injury or worry about re-hurting something and to have that in the back of his mind and not play at his best.”
The injury scare comes just weeks after Katoa was called in to train alongside the NSW Blues due to a hamstring injury suffered by Mitchell Moses.
Brad Schneider will link up with Kodi Nikorima in Katoa’s absence this week.
However, Katoa’s absence is only another piece to the puzzle that Woolf must solve this week, with the club resting four of their State of Origin stars.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Flegler, Max Plath and Selwyn Cobbo will all watch on from the sidelines. Maroons debut Kilikefu Finefeuiaki and NSW reserve Jack Bostock have been named to back up from their representative duties.
“It was the right decision for us to not play those guys. We’ve been really happy with the team we’ve played over the last couples of weeks,” Woolf added.
“Everyone’s really happy for them. They’ve come back with a real smile on their face and a spring in their step.
“I know they’re really happy to be with the group as well.”
Woolf then made clear he will not take credit for the success of Cobbo, who joined the club this season after a mixed run at the Broncos last year, in the Origin arena.
“You can see how much he’s enjoying his footy by the way he’s been playing,” he said.
“He deserves the credit, no one else, he’s the one who’s done the work to make himself come in fit, and he’s done the work and had the consistency to keep himself that way.”
