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

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts during a single match while representing Tonga in a international fixture against New Zealand. This led to seizures while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

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 now come back and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our number one priority,” said Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the athlete is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

Importantly, the executive confirmed that there is no set timeline for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Eli won't be back to training this pre-season and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “He has a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

Broader Context

The NRL is currently finalizing its investigation into the events that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, Katoa was cleared to participate in the match and endured two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

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

The league has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the game in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.