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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries during a single match while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture versus New Zealand. This led to convulsions while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed left Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team revealed this week that the forward has now come back and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

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

Importantly, the executive 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 will not return to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the circumstances that led to the required neurosurgery.

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

However, Katoa was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The NRL has attempted to address concerns around concussions in the sport in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.