NRL Club Player Eli Katoa Sidelined for Whole 2026 Season After Multiple Head Impacts and Brain Surgery

The Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in Victoria, following coming back from a extended period in New Zealand after undergoing brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old suffered three head impacts in a single afternoon while playing for the Tongan national team in a Pacific Championship fixture versus New Zealand. This led to seizures while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A surgical procedure to address bleeding on the brain resulted in the player in the hospital and initially unable to travel to his club base.

The team announced recently that Katoa has finally returned home and is on the mend, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“His health and recovery are our number one priority,” said the club's chief executive a team official. “We are thrilled to have him back home and under the care of our medical staff and specialist physicians.”

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Rodski noted that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.

However, the CEO stated that there is no set timeline for his return to health 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. “There is a long road ahead in his recovery, and his focus will be on achieving complete wellness prior to contemplating any form of return to rugby league activities.”

Rodski concluded by noting that Eli is a much loved and respected part of the squad and club, and that the entire club will support him fully 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 talented player, who was named in the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, appeared to suffer a head injury during the warm-up for the international contest.

However, he was cleared to participate in the match and endured two more head impacts before coming off in the second half.

Katoa’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he needed medical oxygen on the sideline before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

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