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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following coming back from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a international fixture versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address bleeding on the brain resulted in the player hospitalized and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club revealed recently that the forward has finally returned home and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are our top concern,” said the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is improving each day and is eager to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The NRL is wrapping up its inquiry into the events that resulted in 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 warm-up for the international contest.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the match and suffered two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

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

The league has attempted to address issues around concussions in the sport in recent years, implementing crackdowns on high tackles and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.