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The Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following returning from a extended period in Auckland after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts in a single afternoon while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship match versus New Zealand. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed left the player hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced this week that Katoa has now come back and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are our top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

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

“After discussions with our medical team and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the entire club will rally around him 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 talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

However, he was allowed to play in the game and endured two additional blows to the head before coming off in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The league has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the mandatory recovery time for affected players.