Eli Katoa ruled out for entire 2026 season by Melbourne Storm doctor
Eli Katoa will not play for the entire 2026 NRL season.
The Melbourne Storm forward had to undergo emergency surgery in Auckland after suffering three separate head injuries while playing for Tonga against New Zealand earlier this month.
Eli Katoa is helped off the field before being taken to hospital.Credit: Getty Images
The 25-year-old is now back in Melbourne but the Storm’s doctor and neurologists met recently and decided the safest option was to keep the player out of action for next season and give him the chance to make a full recovery.
Katoa has a contract with the Storm until the end of 2027.
Loading
The NRL has completed its investigation into why Katoa was allowed to play in the match after TV cameras caught him being knocked out by teammate Lehi Hopoate before kick-off. Katoa later suffered two more head kicks during the match.
These findings of the investigation have not yet been released.
The Storm will be eligible for cap relief for losing a player for three months or more while on representative duty.
More to come
