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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, after coming back from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries during a single match while representing the Tongan national team in a international match versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed left the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

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

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

Importantly, the executive stated that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Eli will not return to training during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a much loved 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 currently finalizing its investigation into the events that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a head injury during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

However, he was cleared to participate in the match and endured two more head impacts before coming off in the later stages.

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.