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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 his home state, after returning from a extended period in Auckland after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries during a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team announced recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” stated the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the player is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

Importantly, the executive stated that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to practice during the preseason and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating 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 recovery.

League Investigation

The NRL is currently finalizing its investigation into the events that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, he was allowed to play in the game and endured two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical 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, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.