Supercoach Wayne Bennett dealt a surprise selection in his first ever Dolphins NRL line-up, axing Anthony Milford in favour of teen sensation Isaiya Katoa.
Katoa, 19, will make his top-grade debut against the Roosters on Sunday as he pulls on the No.6 jumper for the competition's expansion team.
He was touted as a future star at Penrith and was poached by the Dolphins, but didn't expect to oust the experienced Milford so soon.
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After naming him to debut, the Dolphins released a video of Katoa calling his parents to tell them the news.
"I just wanted to call you and let you know I'll be making my debut next week against the Roosters," he tells his mother.
She responds in shock, "Oh my gosh son, that is amazing. What the hell".
Katoa then calls his father, who becomes emotional over the phone.
"Oh, son, that's awesome," his father says.
The three-part Stan Original Documentary Series 'Dawn of the Dolphins' premieres weekly from March 6, only on Stan.
"I'm happy. Very, very happy. All that work, huh?"
Katoa was surprised by his father's emotion.
"That's the first time he's actually been pretty emotional, he's not usually emotional like that," he says.
"It's got me shaking a little bit."
Katoa also reveals he had no idea he had been selected until Bennett read the round one line-up out to the whole squad.
"It caught me off guard, I didn't even know," he says.
"Wayne was playing his games as usual, he didn't even tell me, he was kind of announcing the team and my name was called out."
The Dolphins play their first NRL game at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
Supercoach Wayne Bennett dealt a surprise selection in his first ever Dolphins NRL line-up, axing Anthony Milford in favour of teen sensation Isaiya Katoa.
Katoa, 19, will make his top-grade debut against the Roosters on Sunday as he pulls on the No.6 jumper for the competition's expansion team.
He was touted as a future star at Penrith and was poached by the Dolphins, but didn't expect to oust the experienced Milford so soon.
TEAM LISTS: Every NRL line-up for round one
READ MORE: Furious Dragons skipper hits out at 'mole' claims
READ MORE: New Zealand makes history in epic finish to Test match
After naming him to debut, the Dolphins released a video of Katoa calling his parents to tell them the news.
"I just wanted to call you and let you know I'll be making my debut next week against the Roosters," he tells his mother.
She responds in shock, "Oh my gosh son, that is amazing. What the hell".
Katoa then calls his father, who becomes emotional over the phone.
"Oh, son, that's awesome," his father says.
The three-part Stan Original Documentary Series 'Dawn of the Dolphins' premieres weekly from March 6, only on Stan.
"I'm happy. Very, very happy. All that work, huh?"
Katoa was surprised by his father's emotion.
"That's the first time he's actually been pretty emotional, he's not usually emotional like that," he says.
"It's got me shaking a little bit."
Katoa also reveals he had no idea he had been selected until Bennett read the round one line-up out to the whole squad.
"It caught me off guard, I didn't even know," he says.
"Wayne was playing his games as usual, he didn't even tell me, he was kind of announcing the team and my name was called out."
The Dolphins play their first NRL game at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
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