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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 Victoria, after returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old suffered three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while representing 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 team announced this week that Katoa has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“His health and recovery are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted 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 Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to practice this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and support him through his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its investigation into the circumstances that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a concussion during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two more head impacts before coming off in the later stages.

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

The NRL has attempted to address issues around concussions in the sport in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.