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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, after returning from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts in a single match while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship match against New Zealand. This led to seizures while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address bleeding on the brain resulted in the player hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team announced this week that the forward has finally returned home and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” stated the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the athlete is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to training this pre-season and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

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

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, Katoa was cleared to participate in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the second half.

His state deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical oxygen beside the field before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The NRL has attempted to address issues around concussions in the sport in recent seasons, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.