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The Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

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

A medical operation to address bleeding on the brain resulted in Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

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

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

However, the executive confirmed that there is no set timeline for Katoa’s recovery or a potential return to training.

“In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli won't be back to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will rally around him and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was named in the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the match and suffered two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

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

The league has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the game in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.