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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after returning from a extended period in Auckland where he underwent brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while representing Tonga in a Pacific Championship fixture versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The team announced this week 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 top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

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

However, the executive confirmed that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli will not return to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

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

The powerful forward, who was named in the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

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

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a medicab.

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.