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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts in a single afternoon while representing Tonga in a international fixture against the Kiwis. This led to seizures while on the sideline, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed left the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club announced this week that Katoa has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” stated the club's chief executive a team official. “It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

Importantly, the executive confirmed that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the circumstances that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a concussion during the pregame routine for the international contest.

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

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

The league has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.