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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, after coming back from a prolonged stay in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts during a single afternoon while representing Tonga in a international fixture against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, requiring emergency medical attention.

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 the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are 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 local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the athlete is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

Importantly, the CEO confirmed that there is no set timeline 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 training during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its inquiry into the events that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, Katoa was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

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

The league has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the game in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.