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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, after coming back from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

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

A medical operation to relieve a brain bleed left Katoa in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced this week that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery remain our top concern,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home.

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

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli won't be back to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

League Investigation

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, Katoa was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the later stages.

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

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around concussions in the sport in recent years, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.