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The Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after coming back from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A medical operation to relieve a brain bleed left the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its investigation into the circumstances that led to the required neurosurgery.

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

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

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

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