Can Dolphins star Isaiya Katoa succeed Nathan Cleary? How he leads a depleted pack may answer

“He has come through that now and is really starting to put his stamp on that halfback position in the competition.”

One inconsistency in Katoa’s game, however, has been in closing out tight contests and guiding the Dolphins home, a factor Blues hierarchy would need to consider if Cleary is ruled out.

Three of the club’s defeats this year have come by six points or less, while they squandered strong leads in 12-point losses to the Tigers and Raiders.

Katoa copped flack last year for opting against a late field goal against the Panthers, only to watch Cleary win it in golden point, before rebounding to kick the match-winning point for Tonga against New Zealand in the Pacific Championships.

When Nicholls was asked why Katoa and the side did not seek a field goal late on Saturday before Newcastle scored in the last minute, he threw the onus on the team’s ability to get into position for him.

Katoa will ultimately hold the key to the Dolphins’ hopes of a finals campaign, and he will be performing behind a forward pack decimated by injuries.

Max Plath (ACL), Gilbert (pectoral), Daniel Saifiti and Thomas Flegler (both shoulders) are all sidelined for the rest of the year, while winger Jack Bostock (ACL) joined them in that fate against the Knights.

“It’s obviously terrible, it didn’t look great when he did it so we kind of all knew that finishing the game,” Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth said of his left-edge partner, Bostock.

“He’s had a great year so far, and knowing Jack he’s going to bounce back even better. I rang him when he got his scans, he’s actually handling it far better than anyone thought.

“He’s a very tough kid, he’s going to bounce back hard next year.”

For the past two seasons, the Dolphins have entered the second half of the year well-placed for the top eight, only to succumb to injury and suspension tolls and win just five of 20 games across that period.

But after overcoming an 0-4 start despite the carnage to be just a point off the top eight, Nicholls was adamant they remained on course for a deep run.

“We have still got a great spine that can create points and a lot of speed in the outside backs. The ingredients are there to play finals,” Nicholls said.

“We haven’t missed the guys who have got injured because of the way the young and inexperienced guys have come in. If we have to call in more guys that have played [Queensland] Cup for most of the year, they can take confidence from what some of those other players have done.

“You’ve got to overcome a lot of obstacles if you want to win in the NRL and get in position for grand final day in October.”