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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while representing Tonga in a international match against New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed left Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The club announced this week that the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

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

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is making daily progress 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 potential return to training.

“After discussions with our medical team and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its investigation into the circumstances that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was named in the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

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

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

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the sport in recent years, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.