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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after coming back from a extended period in Auckland where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts in a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship match versus the Kiwis. This led to seizures while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed resulted in the player hospitalized and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

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 local medical facility.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” said the club's chief executive a team official. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

Broader Context

The NRL is wrapping up its investigation into the circumstances that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

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

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

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the sport in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.