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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following coming back from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts during a single afternoon while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship match versus the Kiwis. This led to convulsions while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed resulted in the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club announced this week that the forward has finally returned home 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 a team official. “It is great to have him back home and under the supervision of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

Importantly, the CEO stated that there is no set timeline for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training this pre-season and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and support him through his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its inquiry into the circumstances that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the later stages.

His state deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical oxygen beside the field before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The league has attempted to address concerns around concussions in the game in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.