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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

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

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain left the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team announced recently that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive a team official. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the athlete is making daily progress and is eager 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.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “He has a long road ahead in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by noting that Katoa is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, 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 powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, Katoa was cleared to participate in the match and endured two more head impacts before being substituted in the second half.

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

The NRL has attempted to address concerns around concussions in the sport in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.