🔗 Share this article

Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following returning from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts during a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship match against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

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

The team announced recently that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are our top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the player is improving each day and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation 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 medical team and neurology experts, Eli won't be back to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will rally around him and support him through his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

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

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

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the match and endured two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The league has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the game in recent seasons, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for affected players.