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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, after coming back from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries in a single match while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture against New Zealand. This led to seizures while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to address bleeding on the brain resulted in the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club announced this week that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the player is making daily progress and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

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

“In consultation with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by saying that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its investigation into the circumstances that led to the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a concussion during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the match and endured two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

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

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the sport in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.