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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries during a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international match versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain resulted in the player hospitalized and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club announced recently that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the athlete is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

Importantly, the CEO confirmed that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is currently finalizing its investigation into the circumstances that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the match and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.