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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts during a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a international fixture against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain left Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The team revealed this week that the forward has finally returned home and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

Importantly, the CEO stated that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

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

The talented player, who was selected for 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 allowed to play in the match and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

His state deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a medicab.

The league has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.