🔗 Share this article

The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, after returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international match versus New Zealand. This led to seizures while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to relieve a brain bleed resulted in Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team announced this week that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted 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 neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a concussion during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

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

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.