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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries during a single match while representing the Tongan national team in a international fixture against New Zealand. This led to convulsions while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to address bleeding on the brain resulted in the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The club revealed recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the player is making daily progress and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery from home.

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

“In consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

Broader Context

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

The powerful forward, who was named in the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a medicab.

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the game in recent seasons, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for affected players.