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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts in a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship match against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain left the player hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The club revealed recently that Katoa has now come back and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

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

“After discussions with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli won't be back to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to rugby league activities.”

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

League Investigation

The NRL is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

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

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

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

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around concussions in the game in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.