Sione Katoa (rugby league, born 1997) explained

Sione Katoa
Birth Date:21 August 1997
Birth Place:Hamilton, New Zealand
Height:180cm (70inches)
Weight:88kg (194lb)
Club1:Cronulla Sharks
Year1start:2018
Year1end:present
Appearances1:108
Tries1:73
Goals1:1
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:294
Teama:Tonga 9s
Yearastart:2019
Appearancesa:3
Triesa:1
Goalsa:1
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:6
Teamb:Tonga
Yearbstart:2022
Appearancesb:5
Triesb:2
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:8
New:yes
Source:[1]
Updated:19 August 2024

Sione Katoa (born 21 August 1997) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays on the for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL.

Background

Katoa was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and is of Tongan descent.[2] Katoa moved to Sydney, Australia in 2003 aged 6.[3]

He was a student at Barker College where he played in the First XV rugby union team. He played his junior rugby league for the Chester Hill Hornets.

Katoa was part of the Parramatta Eels junior systems before being signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.[4] Katoa played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NYC team in 2016–2017, scoring 44 tries in 49 matches.[5] On 4 September 2017, Katoa was named on the wing in the 2017 Holden Cup Team of the Year.[6]

Playing career

2018

After impressing in the pre-season trials for the Sharks, Katoa had beaten the likes of Edrick Lee and Aaron Gray to the vacant wing spot for Round 1.[7] In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, Katoa made his NRL debut for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks against the North Queensland Cowboys, starting on the wing and had a solid performance before leaving the field with a suspected broken jaw in the second half as the Sharks were defeated 20–14 at 1300SMILES Stadium.[8] [9]

Katoa ended the season playing for Cronulla's feeder club side Newtown in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW. Katoa played on the wing for Newtown in their 2018 Intrust Super Premiership NSW grand final loss to Canterbury-Bankstown at Leichhardt Oval.[10]

2019

Katoa made 7 appearances for Cronulla-Sutherland in the 2019 NRL season but mainly spent much of the year playing for the club's feeder side Newtown in the Canterbury Cup NSW. Katoa played for Newtown in their 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW grand final victory over the Wentworthville Magpies at the new Western Sydney Stadium. The following week, Katoa played for Newtown in the NRL State Championship victory over the Burleigh Bears at ANZ Stadium.[11] [12]

2020

In round 6 of the 2020 NRL season, Katoa scored a hat-trick as Cronulla defeated Canterbury 20–18 at Bankwest Stadium.[13]

2021

In round 19 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries for Cronulla in a 44–24 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown.[14]

In round 23 against the Wests Tigers, Katoa scored two tries for Cronulla in a 50–20 victory. In round 25, Katoa scored two tries for Cronulla in a 26–18 loss against Melbourne.[15] He played 13 games for Cronulla and scored nine tries in the 2021 NRL season which saw the club narrowly miss the finals by finishing 9th on the table.[16]

2022

In round 14 of the 2022 NRL season, Katoa scored a hat-trick in Cronulla's 38–16 victory over the New Zealand Warriors.[17] On 19 July, Katoa was ruled out for the rest of the 2022 NRL season with a pectoral injury.[18]

2023

On 30 March, Katoa signed a three-year contract extension to remain at Cronulla until the end of 2026.[19] In round 19 of the 2023 NRL season, Katoa scored a hat-trick in Cronulla's 36–12 victory over the bottom placed Wests Tigers.[20] Katoa played a total of 25 games for Cronulla in the 2023 NRL season and scored 13 tries as Cronulla finished sixth on the table. Katoa played in the clubs 13-12 upset loss against the Sydney Roosters which ended their season.[21]

2024

In round 8 of the 2024 NRL season, Katoa scored two tries for Cronulla in their 40-0 victory over Canberra.[22] In round 13, Katoa scored two tries for Cronulla in their upset 34-22 loss against Parramatta.[23] In round 19, he scored two tries for Cronulla in their 58-6 victory over the Wests Tigers.[24]

Statistics

NRL

Statistics are correct as of the end of round 12 2024

width=2%Seasonwidth=8%Teamwidth=2%Matcheswidth=2%Twidth=2%Gwidth=2%GK %width=2%F/Gwidth=2%Pts
2018 Cronulla-Sutherland930012
2019740016
202019161/1100.00%066
20211390036
202216140056
202325130052
20241290036
Career totals101681/1100.00%0274

International

width=2%Seasonwidth=8%Teamwidth=2%Matcheswidth=2%Twidth=2%Gwidth=2%GK %width=2%F/Gwidth=2%Pts
2022 Tonga31004
Career totals31004

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/sione-katoa--cs-/summary.html Rugby League Project
  2. Web site: Young Guns - Sione Katoa. 29 January 2018. 11 March 2018.
  3. Web site: Archived copy . 28 April 2019 . 11 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411011134/https://www.playersvoice.com.au/sione-katoa-no-money-for-bus-fare/#RyucjPhjiQ7vgQ2B.97 . dead .
  4. Web site: Cronulla Sharks Sione Katoa's rapid NRL rise. 7 March 2018. 11 March 2018.
  5. Web site: Why Flanagan loves Sharks' latest 'superstar' rookie. 11 March 2018.
  6. Web site: 2017 Holden Cup Team of the Year announced. 4 September 2017. 11 March 2018.
  7. Web site: Shane Flanagan says Sione Katoa can be Cronulla's version of Jordan Rapana. www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 11 March 2018.
  8. Web site: Cronulla Sharks debutant Sione Katoa suffers suspected broken jaw. 10 March 2018. 11 March 2018.
  9. Web site: Johnathan Thurston leads North Queensland to victory over Cronulla in his 300th NRL game. www.couriermail.com.au. 11 March 2018.
  10. Web site: Canterbury Bulldogs beat Newtown Jets to win 2018 Intrust Super Premiership grand final. Fox Sports. 23 September 2018.
  11. Web site: Newtown Jets steal the State Championship with a last second freak try. Sporting News.
  12. Web site: Newtown reign supreme in epic decider. NSWRL. 29 September 2019.
  13. Web site: Katoa flies in for three. www.nrl.com. 21 June 2020.
  14. News: Cronulla Sharks beat Canterbury Bulldogs 44-24, Gold Coast Titans down St George Illawarra Dragons 32-10. ABC News. 25 July 2021.
  15. Web site: 'They cannot attract big names': Ennis savages Tigers as star prop snubs Madge. www.foxsports.com.au. 21 August 2021.
  16. Web site: Papenhuyzen back to best as Storm secure minor premiership. www.nrl.com. 3 September 2021.
  17. News: Penrith Panthers welcome back Origin stars in win over Newcastle, as Warriors and Tigers' new coaches lose first games in charge. ABC News. 12 June 2022 .
  18. Web site: Storm's Papenhuyzen fears confirmed as Sharks flyer cops brutal blow: NRL Casualty Ward. www.foxsports.com.au. 19 July 2022 .
  19. Web site: Sharks flyer inks long-term extension; Souths lock up Host: NRL Transfer Centre. www.foxsports.com.au.
  20. Web site: Hynes magic leads Sharks to big victory as Talakai runs riot amid brave Tigers fade-out: Big Hits. www.foxsports.com.au.
  21. Web site: Sydney Roosters score 'wild' 13-12 NRL elimination final win over Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers beat Warriors. www.abc.net.au.
  22. Web site: NRL updates: Dolphins vs Newcastle Knights, Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla Sharks — blog, scores and stats. www.abc.net.au.
  23. Web site: Parra power past Sharks as stars return in style. www.nrl.com.
  24. Web site: Sharks silence Nicho fears; Achilles heel response as Tigers woes get worse: What we learned. www.foxsports.com.au.