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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, after coming back from a extended period in Auckland where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture versus the Kiwis. This led to convulsions while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed left Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club announced this week 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 Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery from home.

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

“In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return 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 Storm family will rally around him and support him through 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 named in the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a concussion during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the second half.

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

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.