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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, after coming back from a extended period in Auckland after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries during a single match while representing the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship match versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while on the sideline, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed left the player hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The club announced this week that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our top concern,” stated Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

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

However, the CEO stated that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our medical team and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the 2026 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 training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Katoa is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The NRL is wrapping up its investigation into the events that led to the required neurosurgery.

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

Despite this, he was cleared to participate in the match and endured two more head impacts before being substituted in the second half.

His state 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 seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and lengthening the post-concussion stand down period for injured athletes.