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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following coming back from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old suffered three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship fixture versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

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

The club revealed this week that the forward has now come back and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” stated the club's chief executive a team official. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

Importantly, the executive stated that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our doctor and neurology experts, 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 finished by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is currently finalizing its investigation into the circumstances that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

However, he was allowed to play in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a stretcher.

The league has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.