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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after returning from a extended period in Auckland after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture against New Zealand. This led to convulsions while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed left the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club revealed recently that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” stated the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

However, the CEO confirmed that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“In consultation with our doctor and neurology experts, Eli won't be back to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will rally around him and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its investigation into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

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

However, he was allowed to play in the game and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical oxygen beside the field before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The league has sought to tackle concerns around concussions in the game in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.