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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after returning from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old suffered three head impacts in a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international fixture versus New Zealand. This led to seizures while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed resulted in the player 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 on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the athlete is improving each day and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to training this pre-season and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

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

The talented player, who was named in the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, he was allowed to play in the game and endured two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

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

The league has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.