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The Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following returning from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international fixture against the Kiwis. This led to seizures while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed resulted in Katoa hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced this week 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 Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the athlete 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.

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the entire club will rally around him and support him through his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its investigation into the circumstances that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the second half.

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

The league has attempted to address concerns around concussions in the game in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.