Eli Katoa has addressed fans from hospital as the rugby league community rallied around the Melbourne Storm and Tonga forward after the Pacific Championships loss to New Zealand. In worrying scenes ahead of Tonga’s match against New Zealand in the Pacific Championships, footage emerged of Katoa copping a sickening head knock during his team’s warm-up.
Teammate Lehi Hopoate jumped up to take a high-ball and collided with Katoa in a sickening collision as the two teams were going through training drills. Katoa collapsed to the ground and appeared to be in distress ahead of the kick-off.
The rugby league community is rallying Melbourne Storm and Tonga forward Eli Kotoa after he was rushed to hospital after numerous head knocks in the loss to New Zealand. (Images: @mikeburgess99/Channel Nine)
But he was allowed to play the game for Tonga. Although he then suffered two head knocks during the clash with the second one forcing him from the field.
And in worrying scenes, Katoa reportedly started to feel ill on the sideline as he watched the game. He was then rushed to hospital as medical staff attended to him with concerned teammates looking on.
There has been great concern for Katoa since the footage of the pre-game hit has emerged. The Tonga and Storm second-rower was clearly not well after three head knocks. But the Storm star posted a photo of him on a drip in hospital on Monday morning and thanked fans for the well wishes.
“Appreciate everyone for checking in, sorry if I haven’t got back to any of you guys but I really appreciate all the love and messages. Ofa atu,” he wrote on Instagram. Katoa appeared to be in better spirits.
Katoa’s injury prompted Tonga coach Kristian Woolf to defend the processes and claimed everything was done by the book to allow the forward to take to the field. “My job is not to question doctors,” Woolf said. “They were both comfortable with that and comfortable with him coming on to the field.”
Woolf claimed Katoa was doing better after visiting hospital. “He has gone to hospital after he wasn’t too great on the sideline. I don’t know the full details but the doctors have gone with him,” Woolf said.
“I have been told he was improving before he went to hospital.” Rugby League fans were quick to rally around Katoa after there was concern for the 25-year-old on the sideline.
Broncos great Corey Parker said it wasn’t a good look for the the game to see a player with three head knocks being taken from the field in such terrible conditions. And fans have wished Katoa a speedy recovery as he will now have a break before he stars Melbourne Storm pre-season training.
New Zealand demolish Tonga to reach final
On the field, it was New Zealand who set up a final against Samoa in the Pacific Championship final after demolishing Tonga 40-14 at Eden Park. Dylan Brown and Keano Kini were the standouts for New Zealand having torn Tonga apart in the first-half.
New Zealand coach Stacey Jones made a late switch to move Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to centre. And Kini was immediately involved at fullback with his electric speed too much to handle.
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The fullback started and finished a stunning 85-metre try for New Zealand thanks to the help of Panthers centre Casey McLean. And the legendary New Zealand halfback was all praise for the 21-year-old star
“He was class. He did that for us last year,” Jones said. “It was a really good game from the boys right from the start, and that is where we wanted to get it right.”
The 40-14 loss to New Zealand marked a horrible Pacific Championships for Tonga who were woeful in defence. Only last week, Tonga lost 34-6 to Samoa. This was despite plenty of hype surrounding this year’s national side team heading into this year’s tournament.
Eliesa Katoa (pictuerd) was taken to hospital after three head knocks during the game.