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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after returning from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts in a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international match versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to relieve bleeding on the brain resulted in Katoa hospitalized and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The club revealed this week that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

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

However, the CEO confirmed that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its investigation into the events that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a concussion during the warm-up for the international contest.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.