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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 Victoria, following returning from a prolonged stay in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete sustained three head impacts during a single match while representing Tonga in a international fixture versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced seizures while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care.

A medical operation to address a brain bleed left Katoa hospitalized and initially unable to travel to his club base.

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

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” stated the club's chief executive Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the care of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

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

However, the CEO stated that there is no timeframe for Katoa’s recovery or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neurology experts, Eli will not return to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the 2026 season,” Rodski declared. “There is a lengthy recovery process ahead of him, and his focus will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating any form of return to training.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected part of the squad and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and support him through his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The NRL is currently finalizing its inquiry into the circumstances that led to Katoa’s surgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a concussion during the pregame routine for the international contest.

Despite this, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and suffered two more head impacts before coming off in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a medicab.

The NRL has sought to tackle issues around head injuries in the sport in recent years, introducing crackdowns on high tackles and expanding the post-concussion stand down period for affected players.