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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts during a single match while representing Tonga in a international fixture against New Zealand. This led to convulsions while on the sideline, necessitating urgent medical care.

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

The club revealed recently that Katoa has now come back and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery from home.

Importantly, 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 neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and support him through his recovery.

Broader Context

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

The talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the international contest.

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the match and suffered two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the second half.

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

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around concussions in the game in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.