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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts during a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a international fixture versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team revealed this week that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” stated the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the athlete is making daily progress and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

Importantly, the CEO confirmed that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to training during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli 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 National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the circumstances that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a concussion during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the second half.

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

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the sport in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.