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The Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery at home in Victoria, after returning from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

Sequence of Events

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three head impacts in a single match while representing Tonga in a international fixture versus New Zealand. This led to seizures while off the field, requiring emergency medical attention.

A surgical procedure to relieve a brain bleed resulted in the player in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The team revealed recently that the forward has now come back and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing are our number one priority,” stated Storm CEO a team official. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our club doctor and specialist physicians.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the athlete is improving each day and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home.

However, the executive confirmed that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a potential return to training.

“After discussions with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the upcoming 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 training.”

Rodski finished by saying that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the Storm family will support him fully and assist him during his recovery.

Broader Context

The NRL is wrapping up its inquiry into the events that resulted in the required neurosurgery.

The talented player, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a head injury during the pregame routine for the international contest.

However, Katoa was allowed to play in the game and suffered two additional blows to the head 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 medicab.

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