'Murky' situation around star's Origin eligibility revealed

Former NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has revealed the conversations he previously had with Isaiya Katoa around his Origin availability.

Katoa has represented Tonga previously, but is eligible for New Zealand and Australia.

When Wayne Bennett was in contention for the Kiwis role in February this year he told Wide World of Sports that would not change his decision to continue playing for Tonga.

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“I’m happy staying with Tonga and continuing what the team is trying to build,” he said.

“It’s a bit tricky because I’m eligible for a lot of different countries and I’ve always said that once I choose one, unless I’m not getting what I want out of it, I’m not going to change.”

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Katoa is yet to commit himself to the Blues, and Fittler detailed the conversation around his eligibility is ‘murky’.

“Isaiya Katoa is a tricky one, I actually had to speak to him about his allegiance because he could also play for New Zealand,” he said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“So that was one of the issues I had while I was coaching there. I made a phone call (with) his management so it’s a real murky area actually.

“We’ve spoken about eligibility and all that sort of stuff, he’s a kid who grew up in Western Sydney, played all his footy there but he obviously has ties with New Zealand.”