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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts in a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a international match versus the Kiwis. This led to seizures while on the sideline, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain left the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The club revealed this week that Katoa has now come back and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Eli won't be back to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

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

The talented player, who was named in the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

However, he was cleared to participate in the match and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the second half.

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a medicab.

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.