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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts during a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed resulted in Katoa hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team revealed recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our top concern,” said the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is making daily progress and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli won't be back to training during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

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

The powerful forward, who was named in the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

However, he was cleared to participate in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the later stages.

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

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around concussions in the sport in recent years, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.