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The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in his home state, after coming back from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while representing Tonga in a international fixture versus the Kiwis. This led to seizures while off the field, necessitating emergency medical attention.

A medical operation to address bleeding on the brain resulted in Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The club revealed this week that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also made a brief visit to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the supervision of our club doctor and local specialists.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

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

Importantly, the executive confirmed that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“After discussions with our doctor and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Katoa is a much loved 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 currently finalizing its investigation into the circumstances that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a concussion during the warm-up for the international contest.

However, he was allowed to play in the game and suffered two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

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

The league has attempted to address concerns around concussions in the game in recent seasons, implementing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.