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Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following coming back from a extended period in Auckland where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old sustained three separate head injuries during a single match while representing Tonga in a Pacific Championship match against the Kiwis. This led to convulsions while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The team announced recently that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our top concern,” said Storm CEO a team official. “It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the player 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.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his recovery.

Broader Context

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

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the match and suffered two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the second half.

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

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the game in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for affected players.