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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following coming back from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts during a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a international match against the Kiwis. This led to convulsions while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain resulted in the player hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The club announced this week that Katoa 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,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

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

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and club, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is currently finalizing its investigation into the events that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

However, he was cleared to participate in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the second half.

His state deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a stretcher.

The league has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.