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

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts during a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture against the Kiwis. This led to convulsions while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to relieve bleeding on the brain resulted in Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The club revealed recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” said the club's chief executive a team official. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

However, the executive stated that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Eli won't be back to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by noting that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its inquiry into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

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

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

His state worsened rapidly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the game in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.