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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, after coming back from a prolonged stay in Auckland where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts during a single match while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship match versus New Zealand. This led to seizures while on the sideline, necessitating urgent medical care.

A medical operation to relieve bleeding on the brain left the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The team revealed recently that the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery remain our number one priority,” stated the club's chief executive a team official. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

However, the CEO stated that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its inquiry into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the second half.

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

The NRL has attempted to address concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.