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

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries during a single match while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship match against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club announced recently that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery are our number one priority,” said Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

Importantly, the executive confirmed that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli won't be back 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 before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its investigation into the events 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 head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

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

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a medicab.

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the game in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.