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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 prolonged stay in Auckland where he underwent brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship match versus New Zealand. This led to seizures while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

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

The team announced recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

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

The Road to Recovery

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

Importantly, the executive stated that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our doctor and neurology experts, Eli will not return to training this pre-season and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a long road ahead ahead of him, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski concluded 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 recovery.

League Investigation

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

The talented player, 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 cleared to participate in the game and suffered two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

His state worsened rapidly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the sport in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for injured athletes.