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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts during a single match while playing for Tonga in a international match versus the Kiwis. This led to seizures while on the sideline, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The club revealed recently 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 number one priority,” said Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the athlete is improving each day and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

Importantly, the executive stated that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a potential return to training.

“In consultation 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 long road ahead ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

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

The talented player, 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 international contest.

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the match and endured two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

His state deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical oxygen beside the field before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The NRL has attempted to address concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent years, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.