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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts during a single afternoon while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship match against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

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

The club revealed this week that the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our top concern,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great 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 making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home.

Importantly, the executive confirmed that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“After discussions with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski finished by noting that Katoa is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The NRL is currently finalizing its investigation into the events that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a concussion during the warm-up for the international contest.

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

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

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