Tonga halfback Isaiya Katoa is buzzing at the prospect of taking on one of his idols in week three of the Pacific Championships and getting a chance to right some of the wrongs of a first-up loss to the Kangaroos.
Despite the 18-0 scoreline in Brisbane, Tonga dominated for long periods but an inability to execute proved their downfall, with Katoa admitting he had plenty to work on after giving up four seven-tackle sets to let Australia off the hook.
“I thought as a team we were physically in the battle; that's probably a little bit of execution (that let us down) and that's probably down to us halves and myself personally," Katoa said.
“There's a little bit of execution to work on. That's something I pride myself on, so I'll make sure I make that change heading into Auckland, I've got to definitely be better there."
Kangaroos v Tonga XIII – Week 1, 2024
Life won't get any easier for Tonga when they face the might of defending champions New Zealand in Auckland on November 2, with Shaun Johnson making an emotional return to the Kiwis after answering an SOS from coach Stacey Jones.
“It's awesome, I used to look up to Shaun," Katoa said.
“I think I've only played against him maybe once [in 2023] and we lost to them and he absolutely carved up.
“So we'll be making sure to make him a target and make him a focus for us defensively.
"I love playing against guys that I that I looked up to as a kid because I feel like I've got no pressure and I can just go and play footy and have some fun."
A stirring Sipi Tau
Should the Kiwis down the Kangaroos in Christchurch on Sunday, Tonga will need to win in week three to avoid the relegation match against the winner of the Pacific Bowl.
If the Kangaroos make it two from two on Sunday and avenge last year's 30-0 loss in the final, Tonga's clash with New Zealand will be for a spot in the final against Australia.
Given Katoa has already played eight Tests with Tonga, it is easy to forget he is still only 20 and his career is very much in its infancy.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf, who will also be his NRL coach next season at the Dolphins, said his young half would be his own harshest critic.
“That was the difference in the game; when you play Australia, they nail those plays and look at how many repeat sets they got – their kicking game in general, they nail it," Woolf said.
“We just didn't quite get that; we kicked out on the full twice, we gave away four seven-tackle sets, and that was probably the difference in the game.
“It didn't happen for us, it didn't happen for Isaiya, but he's an outstanding young player and an outstanding young man and he'll be the hardest marker on himself and I've got no doubt he'll be better in the next game.
“Isaiah's an outstanding young player and an outstanding young man and he'll be the hardest marker on himself and I've got no doubt he'll be better in the next game.”
Something to build on for Tonga
Katoa said he also felt fully supported by the team and the coach to continue playing what he saw and knew he could get a result if he continued to work hard.
“I'm still a young kid that's still wanting to learn and as a student of the game, I know that my best learnings are from making mistakes and making errors" he said.
"I'm really hard on myself and I'm one to, if I'm making a mistake, I try to make sure I can correct that and make sure that I don't put my team under any more pressure to keep making those mistakes.
"The vision’s there and the options are right, it's just about the execution part and Kristian was telling me to keep playing what I see and that's something I'll continue to do is, is be confident and back my vision.
“Now it's just about getting it right and getting the execution right.”
