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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, following returning 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 in a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a international fixture versus New Zealand. This led to seizures while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed resulted in the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The club announced recently that Katoa has now come back and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our top concern,” said 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 added that the player is improving each day and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home.

Importantly, the CEO confirmed that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering a potential comeback to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will rally around him and support him through his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The National Rugby League is wrapping up its inquiry into the circumstances that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a concussion during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, Katoa was cleared to participate in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the second half.

His state deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a stretcher.

The league has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.