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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after returning from a extended period in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts in a single afternoon while playing for Tonga in a international fixture against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to relieve a brain bleed left Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club revealed this week that the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is making daily progress and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

Importantly, the CEO stated that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to practice this pre-season and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the circumstances that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

However, he was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a medicab.

The NRL has attempted to address concerns around concussions in the game in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.