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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship match 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 Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The team revealed this week that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

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

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home.

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

“In consultation with our doctor and neurology experts, Eli won't be back to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and support him through his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its inquiry into the events that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

However, he was cleared to participate in the game and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the second half.

His state deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the game in recent years, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.