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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, after returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old suffered three head impacts during a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship match against New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to relieve a brain bleed resulted in the player hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The club revealed recently that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” stated the club's chief executive a team official. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the athlete is improving each day 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 comeback to the field.

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the circumstances that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the match and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the second half.

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

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