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The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after coming back from a extended period in Auckland where he underwent a neurosurgical procedure.

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 international match against the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to address a brain bleed resulted in Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team announced recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the athlete is improving each day and is eager to continuing his rehabilitation in a home environment.

Importantly, the executive confirmed that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to training during the preseason and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club, and that the Storm family will rally around him and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

League Investigation

The NRL is currently finalizing its investigation into the circumstances that led to the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, appeared to suffer a head injury during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

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

His state worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The NRL has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, implementing stricter enforcement on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.