{"id":292224,"date":"2025-11-18T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T09:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/292224\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T09:00:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T09:00:12","slug":"melbourne-storm-star-eli-katoa-ruled-out-for-2026-nrl-season-after-brain-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/292224\/","title":{"rendered":"Melbourne Storm star Eli Katoa ruled out for 2026 NRL season after brain surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Melbourne Storm<\/a> have issued a sad health update on seriously injured star Eli Katoa, revealing he will not play in the 2026 season and there is still no timeframe on his recovery.<\/p>\n

The club revealed on Tuesday that Katoa had returned safely to Melbourne \u2014 after having brain surgery in New Zealand<\/a> \u2014 but said he still had a \u201clong road ahead\u201d.<\/p>\n

Katoa suffered three head knocks in the space of 90 minutes<\/a> while playing for Tonga against New Zealand in the Pacific Cup at the start of this month.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

The 25-year-old required oxygen after he suffered seizure activity on the sidelines and was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery due to bleeding of the brain.<\/p>\n

After arriving in Melbourne, Katoa had been under the care of specialists, but he has since been released from hospital and will now continue his recovery from home.<\/p>\n

\"EliEli Katoa will not play in the 2026 season and there is still no timeframe on his recovery. Credit: X<\/p>\n

\u201cEli\u2019s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,\u201d Storm chief Justin Rodski said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is great to have him home safely and under the care of our club doctor and local specialists. He is improving each day and looking forward to continuing his rehabilitation from home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rodski said there was still no timeframe on his recovery or possible return to training.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn consultation with our doctor and neuro specialists, Eli will not return to training this pre-season and won\u2019t be available for the 2026 season,\u201d Rodski said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a long road ahead in his recovery and his focus will be on returning to full health before considering any form of return to training.<\/p>\n

\u201cEli is a much loved and respected member of our team and club. The Storm Family will rally around him and support him through his recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NRL has investigated Tonga\u2019s handling of Katoa and is expected to release its findings soon.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s understood much of the focus was on whether Katoa should have been cleared to play after suffering a heavy knock in the warm up, which was deemed to not require an HIA.<\/p>\n

He then passed an HIA after another knock to the head in the first half, before returning and suffering a third blow that ended his game.<\/p>\n

Melbourne will almost certainly have Katoa\u2019s salary wiped from their cap given the injury was suffered in a representative game but the loss is still huge given he\u2019s among their best players.<\/p>\n

– With AAP<\/p>\n

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