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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address bleeding on the brain resulted in the player hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team revealed this week that the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our top concern,” said 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 added that the player is improving each day and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

Importantly, the CEO stated 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, Katoa won't be back to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Katoa is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that led to the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

Despite this, he was allowed to play in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the second half.

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

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the sport in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.