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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after returning from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a international fixture versus New Zealand. This led to convulsions while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address bleeding on the brain left Katoa hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced this week that the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery are our top concern,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

However, the executive stated that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our medical team and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health before considering 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 Storm family will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

Broader Context

The NRL is wrapping up its investigation into the circumstances that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

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

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a stretcher.

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for affected players.