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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old suffered three head impacts during a single match while playing for Tonga in a international match against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to relieve bleeding on the brain left Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team revealed this week that Katoa has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are our top concern,” said the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is improving each day and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

Importantly, the executive stated that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to practice this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a long road ahead in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski finished by noting that Katoa is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

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 league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a concussion during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, Katoa was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

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

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around concussions in the sport in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.