🔗 Share this article

The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following coming back from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a international fixture versus New Zealand. This led to seizures while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

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

The team announced recently that Katoa has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery are our top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the player is improving each day and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

However, the CEO stated that there is no set timeline for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the entire club will rally around him and support him through his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its investigation into the circumstances that led to the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the second half.

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a medicab.

The NRL has attempted to address concerns around concussions in the game in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for affected players.