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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts in a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The club revealed recently that Katoa has now come back and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery are our number one priority,” stated the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

However, the executive stated that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded 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 rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its inquiry into the events that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, he was allowed to play in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the second half.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he needed medical oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a stretcher.

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