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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following returning from a prolonged stay 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 convulsions while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

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 the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” stated the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

However, the CEO stated that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Eli will not return to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by noting that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and support him through his recovery.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its inquiry into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

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

Despite this, he was allowed to play in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The league has attempted to address concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.