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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries in a single afternoon 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 a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced recently that the forward has now come back 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 home safely and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the player is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home.

Importantly, the CEO confirmed that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

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

The talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

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

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