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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, after returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts during a single match while playing for the Tongan national team in a international fixture against the Kiwis. This led to convulsions while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to relieve bleeding on the brain left Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team announced 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 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 specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

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

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 neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to training during the preseason and is ruled out for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, 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 Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his recovery.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its investigation into the events that led to Katoa’s surgery.

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

Despite this, Katoa 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 needed medical oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a stretcher.

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.