But through those experiences, Katoa said a key message emerged: Don’t be deterred from hunting that match-winning play.
“I remember speaking to Wayne, and he was really calm in the way he approached me [after the Penrith game]. He was just making me feel a little bit better about the situation and making sure that if I see something, next time, just back myself and go for it,” Katoa said.
“That’s something I want to work on this year, as well as getting fitter. I guess that’s a little bit of a downfall in my game … I can’t make any of those decisions, or cut out those errors, without being fitter.
“I made a few in that first Australia game, and I remember speaking to Woolfy after. He was just reminding me if I don’t take those opportunities, if I don’t take the things I see and back myself, we don’t even put ourselves in a position to win the game.
“He’d rather me back myself and make the error and learn through that than hold myself back.”
While Katoa’s ambitions lie in delivering a finals campaign, his status as the NRL’s brightest young halfback could come under threat.
Chad Townsend’s move to the Roosters triggered a three-way battle at the Cowboys for the No.7 jumper – incumbent Jake Clifford under pressure from Tom Duffy and Jaxon Purdue.
While Purdue played eight games in his debut year off the bench and in the outside backs, Duffy bided his time in the Queensland Cup.
Clifford impressed in stages as North Queensland returned to finals football, however he and his teammates struggled in a semi-final loss to Cronulla, lacking early direction as the Sharks ran riot.
According to former Northern Pride coach Eric Smith, Duffy was ready to take that next step and announce himself as the side’s long-term general.
Smith, now head coach of Redcliffe, told this masthead he had seen enough to suggest the “intelligent” prospect – who studies engineering – needed to be unleashed.
“If it’s not the first round, then at some point Duffs is going to get an opportunity to play NRL this year for sure. He’s a really good organiser and game manager – he kicks really well,” Smith said.
“He’s an up-and-coming young halfback who seems to have all the attributes you need, which is a rare trait in young halfbacks these days.
“He’s got a really good, calm head on him. I think he’s definitely ready for it – he showed this year he’s ready to take that next step.”
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