Mal Meninga has lavished praise on Isaiya Katoa, describing the Dolphins playmaker as the game’s next great halfback as Australia prepare to face a hostile Tongan crowd in a home Test.
Katoa is coming off a potentially career-defining Test for Tonga after the 20-year-old kicked the match-winning field goal in their 25-24 win over New Zealand.
The hard-fought victory sealed Tonga’s spot in Sunday’s Pacific Championships final at CommBank Stadium.
Tonga lost 18-0 to the Kangaroos in the opening week of the tournament, when Katoa’s kicking game was found wanting.
The playmaker’s composure and game management had also been questioned late in the Dolphins’ NRL campaign.
But Meninga said the last-gasp win would ensure the Tongans head to Parramatta on cloud nine, seeking a fresh scalp after their nail-biting win over the Kiwis.
“The whole team will be buzzing, brimming with confidence that they know they can compete at this level,” the Kangaroos coach said from Australia camp in Wyong on Tuesday.
“Young Katoa is a terrific player and he’s been getting raps for the last two years.
“He’s a player for the future and he has been getting great experience at this level and I know (Dolphins coach) Kristian (Woolf) would be chomping at the bit to get him back to club land and continue his growth.
“He’s an exciting young player and everyone is talking about him being the next great halfback of our game and he’s well on the way towards that.”
Meninga has made just one enforced change to his 17-man squad with Canberra’s Hudson Young promoted to the starting right back-row spot at the expense of injured star Cameron Murray.
Young has endured a difficult experience at State of Origin level for NSW and Meninga said the Raiders forward had a point to prove.
“He hasn’t had that continuity at rep level but he’s done a really good job for us ... he’s got great footwork and he’s very aggressive,” Meninga said.
Penrith prop Lindsay Smith will make his Test debut from the bench against the intimidating Tongan pack that is expected to be bolstered by a significant supporter base from Sydney’s western suburbs.
Meninga said his side would not be intimidated by an atmosphere where Australian fans are likely to be in the minority.
“Whether it’s a sea of red and there’s a green and gold sprinkle it doesn't particularly worry us,” the Kangaroos coach said.
“If it’s a sea of red it’s great for the game, and there was one in Auckland.
“We love playing in front of big crowds and we want to make our country proud.
“We’re passionate about our jersey so we’ll be there fighting and we won’t be taking a backward step.”
AUSTRALIA: 1 Dylan Edwards, 2 Xavier Coates, 3 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 4 Tom Trbojevic, 5 Zac Lomax, 6 Tom Dearden, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Patrick Carrigan, 9 Harry Grant, 10 Lindsay Collins, 11 Angus Crichton, 12 Hudson Young , 13 Isaah Yeo, 14 Matt Burton, 15 Mitchell Barnett, 16 Reuben Cotter, 17 Lindsay Smith, 18 Ben Hunt.
