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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old suffered three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while playing for Tonga in a international match versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to address bleeding on the brain resulted in Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The club revealed recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain 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 medical staff and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery from home.

However, the CEO stated that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 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 any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its inquiry into the circumstances that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

However, he was cleared to participate in the match and suffered two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the later stages.

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a stretcher.

The NRL has attempted to address issues around concussions in the game in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.