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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out 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 after undergoing a neurosurgical procedure.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a international fixture versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to relieve bleeding on the brain left Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded to his club base.

The team revealed this week that the forward has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” said the club's chief executive a team official. “It is great to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski added that the athlete is making daily progress and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery in a home environment.

Importantly, the executive stated 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 this pre-season and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “There is a long road ahead ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski finished 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 support him through his recovery.

Broader Context

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

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the annual awards ceremony, seemed to sustain a concussion during the pregame routine for the Pacific Championship match.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the match and endured two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he required oxygen beside the field before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

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