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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries during a single match while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship fixture versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed resulted in the player hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The club announced recently that Katoa has now come back and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted 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 added that the athlete is making daily progress and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

Importantly, the CEO confirmed that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to practice during the preseason and is ruled out 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 any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The NRL is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that led to 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 Pacific Championship match.

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

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

The NRL has attempted to address issues around concussions in the sport in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.