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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following returning from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while representing the Tongan national team in a international match versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to relieve a brain bleed resulted in the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The team announced this week that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

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

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

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

“In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli won't be back to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is currently finalizing its investigation into the circumstances that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the second half.

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a medicab.

The NRL has attempted to address concerns around concussions in the sport in recent years, implementing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.