{{short description|Tongan rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Tui Katoa |fullname = Tuipulotu Katoa |image = TUI KATOA.jpg |imagesize = 290 |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1999|04|27}} |birth_place = Hamilton, New Zealand |height = {{convert|184|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|88|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|WG}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Canterbury Bulldogs}} |year1start = 2020 |year1end = 22 |appearances1 = 10 |tries1 = 2 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 8 |club2 = Melbourne Storm |year2start = 2024 |year2end = present |appearances2 = 0 |tries2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 0 |teamA = Tonga 9s |yearAstart = 2019 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 2 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |retired = |source = <ref>[https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/tuipulotu-katu/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> |updated = 19 May 2021 | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | father = | mother = | spouse = | education = | alma_mater = | relatives = Sione Katoa (brother) }} }}
'''Tui Katoa''' (born 27 April 1999) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays on the {{rlp|wg}} for North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup.
He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL).
==Background== Katoa was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and is of Tongan descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/10/17/two-sione-katoas-better-than-one-for-tonga/|title=Two Sione Katoas better than one for Tonga|date=17 October 2019|website=nrl.com}}</ref> Katoa is the younger brother of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks player, Sione.
He played his junior rugby league for the Chester Hill Hornets before being signed by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
==Playing career== Katoa played for the Canterbury-Bankstown junior sides from 2015 to 2018.
===2019=== Katoa spent the 2019 season primarily playing in the Canterbury Cup NSW as well as the Jersey Flegg Cup. He was selected to represent the New South Wales Under-20's in a 36–10 win.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/10/burton-stars-as-blues-crush-maroons-in-under-20s-origin/|title=Burton stars as Blues crush Queensland in under 20s Origin|date=10 July 2019|website=nrl.com}}</ref> At the end of the season, Katoa was named in the 16-man Tongan World Nines squad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/10/11/tonga-name-big-stars-and-emerging-players-for-world-cup-nines/|title=Tonga name big stars and emerging players for World Cup Nines|date=11 October 2019|website=nrl.com}}</ref>
===2020=== In round 20 of the 2020 NRL season, Katoa made his debut for Canterbury-Bankstown against the Penrith Panthers, coming off the bench for 55 minutes in a 42–0 loss.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/09/26/bulldogs-thompson-in-trouble-after-eye-gouge-allegation/|title=Thompson off to judiciary after Tamou downplays eye gouge claim|date=27 September 2020|website=nrl.com}}</ref>
===2021=== Katoa made a total of 11 appearances for Canterbury in the 2021 NRL season as the club finished last and claimed the Wooden Spoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-set-to-sign-max-king-and-braidon-burns/a9fa54c9-a224-4cc9-ae15-8a5dd1e74275/|title=Canterbury Bulldogs set to sign Rabbitohs star Braidon Burns, Storm prop Max King for 2022 NRL season|website=wwos.nine.com.au}}</ref>
===2022 & 2023=== In 2022, Katoa continued to play for Mounties in the NSW Cup. In 2023, he signed for the Sydney Roosters but made no appearances for the first grade team. Instead he played for the clubs feeder side North Sydney in the NSW Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2023/07/02/match-report-nsw-cup-round-18-vs-bears/|title=Match Report: NSW Cup Round 18 vs Bears|website=www.weststigers.com.au}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/bulldogs/tuipulotu-katoa/ NRL profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Katoa, Tui}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Category:New Zealand rugby league players Category:New Zealand people of Tongan descent Category:Sportspeople of Tongan descent Category:North Sydney Bears players Category:Rugby league players from Hamilton, New Zealand Category:Rugby league wingers