🔗 Share this article

The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts in a single afternoon while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship fixture against New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed left Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced this week that the forward has now come back and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

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

Importantly, the CEO 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, Eli will not return to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the circumstances that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was named in the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

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

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.