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Melbourne 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 a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts in a single match while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship match against New Zealand. This led to seizures while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A medical operation to address bleeding on the brain resulted in the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The team revealed this week that the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” stated the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

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.

“After discussions with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The NRL is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that led to the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, 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, Katoa was allowed to play in the match and suffered two more head impacts before coming off in the later stages.

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

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