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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following coming back from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a international match against New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain resulted in the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

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

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our top concern,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the athlete is making daily progress and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

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

“After discussions with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its investigation into the events that led to the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

However, he was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

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

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