🔗 Share this article

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

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries during a single match while representing Tonga in a Pacific Championship match versus the Kiwis. This led to convulsions while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain left the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The club revealed this week that Katoa has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

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

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will rally around him and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The NRL is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the game and endured two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The league has sought to tackle concerns around concussions in the sport in recent seasons, introducing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for affected players.