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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, after returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while representing Tonga in a Pacific Championship match versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed resulted in the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced recently that the forward has now come back 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. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

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

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

“After discussions with our medical team and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to training during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

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

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the match and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

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

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the game in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.