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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 Victoria, following coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while representing Tonga in a international fixture against New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed resulted in the player hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

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

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

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

“After discussions with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by noting that Katoa is a much loved and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The NRL is wrapping up its inquiry into the circumstances that led to the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a concussion during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, Katoa was cleared to participate in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the second half.

His state deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a medicab.

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the game in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.