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The Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, after coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international match versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to relieve bleeding on the brain resulted in the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The team revealed this week that Katoa has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision 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 executive confirmed that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a potential return to training.

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli will not return to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.”

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 support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its investigation into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, he was allowed to play in the game and endured two more head impacts before being substituted in the second half.

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

The league has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.