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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts during a single afternoon while playing for Tonga in a international fixture versus the Kiwis. This led to seizures while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to relieve a brain bleed left Katoa hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The club announced this week that Katoa has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “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 eager to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

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

“After discussions with our medical team and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its inquiry into the events that led to the required neurosurgery.

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

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

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a stretcher.

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the sport in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.