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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, after coming back from a extended period in Auckland after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship match versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain resulted in Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club revealed recently that the forward has finally returned home and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive 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 player is making daily progress and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

Importantly, the CEO confirmed that there is no set timeline for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will rally around him and support him through his recovery.

Broader Context

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 competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the later stages.

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen beside the field 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, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.