Eli Katoa received the injury during the Tonga and New Zealand Kiwis Pacific Championships match in Auckland.
Photo: NRL Photos/Photosport
Tongan rugby league player Eliesa Katoa may never play the game again, according to Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
Katoa had brain surgery in November as a result of head knocks he received during the Tonga and New Zealand Kiwis Pacific Championships match in Auckland.
The first was a head knock with a team mate during the pre-game warm up, followed by two more high hits during the match.
The 25 year old backrower was ruled out of the 2026 season but now Melbourne Storm coach Bellamy has revealed that Katoa may never return to the NRL.
“He’s doing really well at the moment,” Bellamy told Channel 7.
“I don’t know if he’ll play next year… I don’t know if he’ll play again.
“The doctors haven’t made that decision, and I don’t know when that decision will get made to be quite honest.
Melbourne Storm star Eli Katoa in the hospital following his injury after a test against New Zealand earlier this month.
Photo: Instagram/Supplied
“I imagine after a certain amount of time he’ll have more tests and go from there. It was a major injury, and we want him to live the rest of his life in a normal way, so fingers crossed.”
As a part of his recovery Katoa has been working with the Melbourne Storm forward pack.
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