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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following coming back from a extended period in Auckland where he underwent brain surgery.

What Happened

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

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

The club announced recently that the forward has now come back and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the athlete is improving each day and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

However, the executive stated that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Eli won't be back to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events 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, he was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the second half.

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

The league has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the game in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.