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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after returning from a extended period in Auckland where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old suffered three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship match versus New Zealand. This led to seizures while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain resulted in the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.

The team revealed this week that the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive a team official. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

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

“After discussions 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,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski finished by noting that Eli is a much loved 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 wrapping up its inquiry into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was named in the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, Katoa was cleared to participate in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the later stages.

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

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