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The Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts during a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a international fixture versus New Zealand. This led to convulsions while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to address bleeding on the brain left Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team revealed recently that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” said Storm CEO a team official. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the player is improving each day and is eager to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

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

“After discussions with our medical team and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to practice this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its investigation into the events that led to 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, Katoa was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the second half.

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

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