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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, following coming back from a prolonged stay in Auckland where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts during a single match while playing for Tonga in a international fixture against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed resulted in the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The club revealed recently that Katoa has now come back and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery from home.

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

“In consultation with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to practice this pre-season and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” Rodski declared. “He has a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Katoa is a much loved and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is currently finalizing its investigation into the circumstances that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

Despite this, he was allowed to play in the match and endured two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being taken off on a medicab.

The league has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the game in recent years, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.