Eliesa Katoa Explained

Eliesa Katoa
Fullname:Eliesa Katoa
Birth Date:2000 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Hihifo, Niuatoputapu, Tonga
Height:193cm (76inches)
Weight:1100NaN0
Year1start:2020
Year1end:22
Appearances1:46
Tries1:10
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:40
Club2:Melbourne Storm
Year2start:2023
Year2end:present
Appearances2:41
Tries2:16
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:64
Yearastart:2023
Yearaend:present
Appearancesa:2
Triesa:1
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:4
New:yes
Source:[1]
Updated:15 August 2024

Eliesa Katoa (born 3 January 2000) is a Tongan professional rugby league footballer who plays as a forward for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL) and .

Early life

Katoa was born and raised in the village of Koulo in the Ha'apai group of islands of Tonga,[2] he then moved to New Zealand to take up a scholarship at Tamaki College, Auckland in 2017 playing rugby union.[2] He was then signed by the New Zealand Warriors.[3]

Playing career

Katoa made his NRL debut in round 1 of the 2020 NRL season for the New Zealand Warriors against Newcastle Knights starting from the bench, in the club's 20–0 loss.[2] [4] He had only played 13 games of rugby league in his life before making his debut.[5]

Katoa scored his first try in the Warriors' 18–0 win over the St. George Illawarra Dragons in round 3 of the 2020 season. Katoa was one of a few Warriors players who were initially not allowed to travel back to New Zealand during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[6] [7]

He was released from his Warriors contract in 2022 to join the Melbourne Storm in 2023 on a two-year contract.[8] [9] [10] [11]

After impressing during the 2023 NRL preseason challenge,[12] Katoa made his Melbourne Storm debut against the Parramatta Eels in round 1 of the 2023 NRL season, and was presented with his debut jersey (cap 226).[3] He would play his 50th NRL match in round 4 of the 2023 season. Katoa played 21 games for Melbourne in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished third on the table. Katoa played in Melbourne's preliminary final loss against Penrith.[13]

Statistics

!Year!Team!Games!Tries!Pts
2020 New Zealand Warriors13624
20211814
202215312
2023 Melbourne Storm21624
202419832
Totals852496
[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/eliesa-katoa/summary.html Rugby League Project
  2. News: Gilhooly . Daniel . Katoa's family oblivious to Warriors deeds . AAP Sports News Wire . 9 June 2020 . Sydney.
  3. Web site: Eliesa Katoa becomes player 226. melbournestorm.com.au. 2 March 2023.
  4. Web site: Knights v Warriors. National Rugby League. en. 2020-06-01.
  5. Web site: Campton . Nick . Eli Katoa was born and raised on a remote Tongan island. Now he's becoming Melbourne Storm's newest weapon . abc.net.au . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 23 April 2024 . 23 April 2024.
  6. News: Proszenko . Adrian . The border ban; and the homeless Warrior . The Timaru Herald . Stuff Limited . 31 July 2020 . Timaru, New Zealand . 22.
  7. News: Long . David . Re-entry blocked for Warriors . Dominion Post . Stuff Limited . 30 July 2020 . Wellington, New Zealand . 32.
  8. Web site: Becht . Richard . Katoa granted request for release at end of season . warriors.kiwi . 6 April 2023 . 8 August 2022.
  9. Web site: Molyneux . Mark . Melbourne Storm announces the signing of Eliesa Katoa on two-year deal . The Sporting News . 6 April 2023 . 8 August 2022.
  10. Web site: Dunn . Alex . EX-COACH SLAMS WARRIORS, BLAMES KATOA DEPARTURE ON DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT "DOESN’T WORK" . sen.com.au . Sports Entertainment Network . 6 April 2023 . 8 August 2022.
  11. Web site: Long . David . Eliesa Katoa to leave Warriors for Melbourne Storm next season . stuff.co.nz . Stuff Limited . 6 April 2023 . 8 August 2022.
  12. Web site: Ward . Roy . Newcomers Katoa, Warbrick shine as Storm come back to beat Warriors in Christchurch . smh.com.au . Nine Media . 6 April 2023 . 19 February 2023.
  13. Web site: NRL 2023: Melbourne Storm season review. www.sportingnews.com.
  14. https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/melbourne-storm/eliesa-katoa/

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