🔗 Share this article

The Storm backrower Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 rugby league season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, after coming back from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old sustained three head impacts in a single afternoon while representing the Tongan national team in a international fixture against the Kiwis. This led to seizures while on the sideline, necessitating urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain left the player hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The club revealed recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is recovering, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our top concern,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the athlete is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home.

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

“In consultation with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa won't be back to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished by noting that Katoa is a highly valued 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 inquiry into the events that resulted in Katoa’s surgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and endured two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he required oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

The NRL has attempted to address issues around head injuries in the sport in recent years, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.