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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following returning from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts in a single match while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship match versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed resulted in 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 made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

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

The Road to Recovery

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

However, the CEO 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 neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “He has a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health 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 club, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The NRL is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on high tackles and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.