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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international fixture versus the Kiwis. This led to convulsions while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed resulted in the player hospitalized and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The team revealed this week that the forward has finally returned home and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” said Storm CEO a team official. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home.

Importantly, the executive stated 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 training this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad 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 powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the match and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the second half.

His state worsened rapidly, and he needed medical 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 years, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.