Melbourne Storm second-rower Eli Katoa has expressed hope of returning to the NRL after undergoing emergency brain surgery in New Zealand. The 25-year-old suffered a brain bleed while playing for Tonga in the Pacific Championships in early November, ruling him out of the 2026 season.
Katoa spent more than two weeks in hospital and later consulted specialists in Melbourne, who advised him not to play next season. He is now recovering at home under the supervision of Storm medical staff. In an Instagram post, Katoa said: 'My recovery is going well and hopefully I can keep ticking all of the boxes that I need!'
He thanked fans and the Storm club for their support, with a special tribute to his partner Tuitofa Aloua. 'This woman has been amazing, strong and sticking by my side through it all,' he wrote. Teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen, who also will not play for Melbourne next season, responded: 'Health is wealth king, look after yourself my bro.'
The NRL has completed an investigation into Tonga's handling of Katoa's injuries but has not yet released its findings. The Storm will receive salary cap relief for Katoa, who was the Dally M second-rower of the year and is considered almost impossible to replace.
