🔗 Share this article

Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following returning from a extended period in Auckland where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team announced recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

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

The Road to Recovery

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

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to training during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its investigation 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, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and endured two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a stretcher.

The league has attempted to address concerns around concussions in the game in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.