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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, following returning from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

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

A medical operation to address a brain bleed resulted in Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team announced this week that the forward has now come back and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “It is great to have him home safely and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski added that the athlete is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

However, the CEO stated that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a potential return to training.

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli won't be back to practice 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 a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The NRL is wrapping up its investigation into the circumstances that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was named in the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a concussion during the warm-up for the international contest.

However, he was allowed to play in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the later stages.

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

The league has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the sport in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.