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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for Tonga in a international fixture against the Kiwis. This led to seizures while on the sideline, necessitating urgent medical care.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed resulted in Katoa hospitalized and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

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 are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

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

However, the executive confirmed that there is no set timeline for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“After discussions with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli will not return to training during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its inquiry into the circumstances that led to the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

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

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

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