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The Storm backrower 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 Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts in a single match while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship fixture against the Kiwis. This led to seizures while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address bleeding on the brain resulted in the player hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced this week that the forward has finally returned home and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “It is great to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is making daily progress and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation 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 neuro specialists, Eli will not return to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

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

The talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, Katoa was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

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

The NRL has attempted to address issues around concussions in the sport in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.