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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after coming back from a extended period in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old suffered three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a international match versus the Kiwis. This led to seizures while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed left Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team 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 are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

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

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

“After discussions with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli will not return to training this pre-season and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.”

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

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its investigation into the events that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

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

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

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around concussions in the sport in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.