Melbourne Storm backrower and Tonga star Eli Katoa faces the prospect of further weeks in hospital and possibly time in a rehabilitation centre as he begins his slow recovery from brain surgery after he suffered three head knocks against New Zealand 12 days ago.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old remains in hospital in Auckland, and alarming information provided by his club on Friday indicates there is no guarantee one of the game\u2019s best forwards will play again.<\/p>\n
Katoa appeared to suffer a concussion in the warmup<\/a> in the Pacific Championships clash two weeks ago when his head collided with Tonga teammate Lehi Hopoate.<\/p>\n But he was allowed to play, and received two more head impacts during the game, before suffering seizures on the sideline and needing emergency surgery to release bleeding on the brain.<\/p>\n The Storm chief executive, Justin Rodski, said Katoa\u2019s recovery was only beginning.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s in a stable condition, he\u2019s been improving, which is really pleasing,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s still got a long way to go in terms of his short-term, medium-term recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n The Storm are arranging to bring him back to Australia over the weekend or early next week, but he will need to return to hospital in Melbourne where he will meet specialists to guide the next stage of recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cAt that point they\u2019ll make the decision on when he\u2019s discharged from there and what his recovery looks like from there, whether that\u2019s heading home, whether that\u2019s heading into some form of rehabilitation centre,\u201d Rodski said.<\/p>\n After reports of Katoa\u2019s improving condition in the past two weeks, Friday\u2019s sobering news underscores the seriousness of the situation.<\/p>\n Rodski said it was too soon to say whether or not he would play again, let alone take the field next season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be unfair to him and his family to make any type of statements around his short-term or long-term future other than to say that he has our full support,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re working really closely with him and his family to get him back to Melbourne and give him every possible opportunity to return to full health first and foremost. And then from there we can see whether or not he\u2019s ready, or when he\u2019s ready I should say, to return to playing professional sport.\u201d<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Sign up to Australia Sport<\/p>\n Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com<\/a> to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Eli Katoa scores a try during the NRL grand final against the Brisbane Broncos in October. Photograph: Cameron Spencer\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Storm\u2019s players and staff have been distraught following the incident involving a player widely adored.<\/p>\n Welfare officer Young Tonumaipea and chair Matt Tripp have visited him in hospital, and those in Melbourne have been sending messages of goodwill. The taxing situation comes just weeks after the club lost its second successive grand final.<\/p>\n Rodski said Katoa\u2019s plight put football into perspective but the club\u2019s connection was tight.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of the closest connections you\u2019ll ever experience, in my view, and when someone that is so loved and respected is put in such a heartbreaking position, it impacts everybody and it\u2019s been really challenging,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut on the flip side of that, the best part about footy clubs is how connected they are and how much the family comes together to support one another through tough periods and this last couple of weeks has been an incredible example.\u201d<\/p>\n