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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international match against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to relieve a brain bleed left Katoa hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The club announced this week that the forward has now come back and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our number one priority,” said Storm CEO a team official. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is improving each day and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home.

Importantly, the CEO confirmed that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting 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 rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League 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 annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the international contest.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

His state deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the game in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.