EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Johns reveals 'burn him' fear over Isaiya Katoa's potential Origin debut amid Jarrod Mullen flashbacks
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Blues legend Andrew Johns has revealed why he has concerns over Isaiya Katoa replacing Nathan Cleary for the Blues in Origin III, comparing the situation to the debut of Jarrod Mullen.
Mullen came into the NRL with comparisons to Johns after replacing him at Newcastle's halfback. In 2007, with 31 games to his name, Mullen was picked as NSW halfback for Origin I.
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The Blues led 18-6 at half time but let it slip to lose 25-18. Mullen never played Origin again.
Danny Buderus presents Jarrod Mullen with his debut jersey. Getty
With Cleary racing the clock to be fit for game three, attention is now turning to who should replace him if he doesn't get his body right in time.
Katoa is one name, along with Luke Metcalf as well as the possibility of Jarome Luai moving to halfback and Matt Burton playing five-eighth.
Johns believes the pressure of the Origin arena wouldn't impact Katoa but, regardless, has his concerns.
"He's ready to go, but what's in my head is Jarrod Mullen," Johns told Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.
"When Jarrod was picked in 2007 and he was in his early twenties and I think it burnt him, I think it knocked his confidence around ... he's ready to go, Isaiya Katoa, but you could burn him."
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Isaiya Katoa in action for the Dolphins. Getty
Adding to the concern for Johns is the fact Katoa and Luai both play on the left side.
"Katoa could play both sides but he's far more comfortable on the left," he said.
Johns added Metcalf plays on the right side but Katoa is "special".
"He'll handle it but you just don't want to burn him too early ... I know it knocked Jarrod around, the build-up, the pressure, they didn't win," he said.
"Coming in with the series on the line is a lot of pressure."
At the end of round 12, when the count went behind closed doors, Metcalf was on top of the Dally M leaderboard with 31 points. Will Kennedy was two points behind him.
Isaiya Katoa was in equal fifth on 23 points.
The Warriors are currently third with the Dolphins sixth.
While both Metcalf and Katoa are in good form and are promising representative prospects, the Blues will be desperately hoping Cleary is available for selection.
The superstar halfback will not play for the Panthers against the Warriors at 3pm (AEST) on Saturday but hadn't been named anyway. His father and club coach Ivan opted to rest all his Origin representatives for the trip across the Tasman.
"Nathan had that little groin injury. I'm not too sure how he's going at the moment, but I don't think it's too serious," Ivan Cleary said in Auckland on Friday.
The Panthers have copped a horror schedule in this part of the season, with a short turnaround between Saturday's clash with the Warriors and a potentially season defining match against the ladder leading Bulldogs next Thursday night.
The five-day turnaround adds to the doubt over Cleary's involvement in that match, with the NSW squad for the series decider to be picked three days later on Sunday, June 29.
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