The Storm hasn’t ruled out Eli Katoa one day returning to rugby league as the “devastated” back-rower continues to recover from the brain injury that has ruled him out of the 2026 season.

The club revealed on Tuesday that Katoa had returned to Melbourne but would not be available to play next year after he suffered three head knocks in the space of 90 minutes while playing for Tonga against New Zealand earlier this month.

The Dally M Second Rower of the Year suffered a sickening collision with teammate Lehi Hopoate in the warm-up, but Tongan medical staff insist they didn’t see the footage that went to air.

Katoa suffered another head knock early in the game that forced him off for a head injury assessment, which he passed, before another collision in the second half ruled him out of the contest.

The edge forward suffered “seizure activity” on the bench and required an oxygen mask before he was taken to hospital for surgery to ease pressure on his brain.

Melbourne’s club doctor and football director Frank Ponissi flew to Auckland to assist Katoa’s travels back home where he’s now in the hands of specialists.

“He’s struggling to process it all, obviously,” Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said on SEN.

“He’s an athlete, he’s a competitor, he’s a young man at the peak of his powers, and he’s now facing at a minimum a year on the sidelines.

“As you can imagine, he’s struggling to deal with that part of this.

“His passion and love is rugby league, and for that to be taken away from him is pretty devastating for him.”

While Katoa won’t play next year, Rodski has refused to rule out a potential return down the track.

“We certainly hope (he’ll be back),” he said.

“It’s one of those things where we’re in the doctor’s hands and the medical experts will guide us on what he can and can’t do.

“He’s got a series of tests and series of assessments and rehabilitation plan that’ll be put in place that will have milestones in it that he’ll need to tick off over the course of the coming weeks and months.

“If he continues to do that and continues to improve – and if ultimately he’s cleared by medical experts and doctors to return to training and then playing – we’ll be supportive of that.

“It is in the hands of the doctors and the medical experts, as it should be.”

The Storm has also left the door open for a possible return next year, although the club won’t rush anything that could jeopardise Katoa’s health.

“We will never say never to any scenario, but at the same time, this is a moment when we really don’t want to put any pressure or expectation on him or his recovery,” Rodski said.

“We just want to make sure that he gets fit and healthy and that’s the first priority for us and his welfare, not just in the immediate term but for the rest of his life.”

The club will work with the NRL on the logistics of freeing up a roster spot and salary cap relief for next year as they also contend with the loss of stars Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jonah Pezet.

But their main focus right now is on Katoa and the NRL findings from its investigation into how he was allowed to take the field.

“I haven’t (been given access to the findings) but I’ve been in contact with (NRL chief executive) Andrew Abdo about it, and I expect the club will be involved in some form of briefing around what’s in the report over the next week or so,” Rodski said.

“I’m just waiting on the NRL to let us know when that’ll be.”

Originally published as ‘We will never say never to any scenario’: Storm leaves door open for Eli Katoa to return as ‘devastated’ star continues to recover