🔗 Share this article Melbourne Storm Player Eli Katoa Sidelined for Entire 2026 NRL Campaign Following Serious Head Injuries and Neurosurgery The Storm forward Eli Katoa will miss the complete 2026 rugby league season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after coming back from a prolonged stay in Auckland where he underwent brain surgery. What Happened The 25-year-old athlete sustained three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for Tonga in a international match versus the Kiwis. This led to seizures while off the field, necessitating urgent medical care. A medical operation to relieve bleeding on the brain resulted in Katoa in the hospital and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne. The club revealed this week that Katoa has now come back and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a Melbourne hospital. “His health and recovery 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 specialist physicians.” The Road to Recovery Rodski added that the player is making daily progress and is eager to pursuing his recovery from home. Importantly, the executive confirmed that there is no timeframe for his return to health or a comeback to the field. “In consultation with our doctor and neurology experts, Katoa will not return to practice during the preseason and won’t be available for the upcoming season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness before considering any form of return to training.” Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will rally around him and assist him during his recovery. League Investigation The National Rugby League is wrapping up its inquiry into the circumstances that resulted in the required neurosurgery. The powerful forward, who was named in the league's best lineup at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a concussion during the warm-up for the international contest. Despite this, he was allowed to play in the match and suffered two additional blows to the head before being substituted in the second half. His state worsened rapidly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a medicab. The league has sought to tackle issues around concussions in the sport in recent seasons, introducing crackdowns on dangerous contact and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.