The Melbourne Storm look set to turn to a relative rookie to fill the void left by Eli Katoa’s absence from his usual spot in the starting second-row in 2026. And they might have the Panthers to thank after the 24-year-old came through the vaunted Penrith NRL system.
With Katoa set to miss the vast majority – and likely all – of the 2026 season, it’s expected that Ativalu Lisati will find himself in the starting side. Lisati will likely step into Katoa’s role on the right edge outside Jahrome Hughes, although he could find himself starting at lock in the opening rounds as Trent Loiero serves a two-game suspension from the grand final.
Ativalu Lisati (far left) came through Ivan Cleary’s (R) Penrith system. Image: Getty
Lisati started at the Panthers and came through the reserve-grade ranks at Ivan Cleary’s club, but never played an NRL game there. He was part of the Penrith side that won the Jersey Flegg competition (Under-21s) in 2023 and was then promoted to NSW Cup in 2024.
But he made a mid-season switch to the Storm that year by joining Melbourne’s feeder club the North Sydney Bears. The forward was handed his NRL debut in Round 26 of 2024, and then played 14 games of first grade last season.
Ativalu Lisati (L) looks set to fill Eli Katoa’s (R) role in 2026.
(Getty Images)
He was picked on the bench for the grand final, which the Storm lost to the Brisbane Broncos. With Katoa absent in 2026, Craig Bellamy could call on Joe Chan or the recently-signed Jack Hetherington. But it appears as though Lisati has the inside running.
“If that’s where ‘Bellza’ (Bellamy) wants me, then that’s what I’ll do because I’ll do anything for him,” Lisati told Martin Gabor of NCA NewsWire last week. “Whether he wants me playing on the edge or in the ruck, I just do whatever is best for the team. I don’t mind (playing edge or middle). I just want to play.”
Ativalu Lisati played in the lower grades for the Penrith Panthers.
(Getty Images)Melbourne Storm rookie of the year ready to step up
Lisati signed a new two-year deal in December and won the Billy Slater Rookie of the Year Award at the club’s presentation night last year. And he’s hoping to go one better in 2026.
“It was a tough pill to swallow because you want to be holding the (premiership) trophy up at the end of the game and celebrating with your teammates,” he said of the loss to Brisbane. “But there was still stuff to celebrate with the team because getting to a grand final is an accomplishment.
“There were a lot of learnings that I can take from that and try to apply those to this year. I come from a good club in Penrith, and now I’m at another great club that has accomplished many things over the past two decades.”