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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following returning from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts in a single match while representing Tonga in a Pacific Championship match versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed left Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

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 Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” said Storm CEO a team official. “It is great to have him back home and under the supervision of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

Importantly, the CEO stated that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli won't be back to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its investigation into the circumstances that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

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 warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, Katoa was cleared to participate in the match and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a stretcher.

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