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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after coming back from a extended period in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a international match versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed left Katoa hospitalized and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The club revealed recently that the forward has now come back and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

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

However, the CEO confirmed that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our medical team and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its inquiry into the circumstances that led to the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a concussion during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

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

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The NRL has attempted to address concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.