🔗 Share this article

The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following returning from a extended period in Auckland after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts in a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a international match versus the Kiwis. This led to convulsions while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to relieve a brain bleed resulted in Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The club revealed recently that Katoa has now come back and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” stated the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the athlete is making daily progress and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

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

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training this pre-season 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 finished by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad 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 wrapping up 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 annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

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

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical 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 game in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.