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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following coming back from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries during a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international match versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

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

The club revealed recently that Katoa has now come back and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our number one priority,” said Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the athlete is improving each day and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

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

“After discussions with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli will not return to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will rally around him and support him through his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its inquiry into the circumstances that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the international contest.

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

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a stretcher.

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the game in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.