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Melbourne’s Eli Katoa is hopeful of returning to the NRL, telling Storm fans “I’ll be back soon” on social media as he recovers from brain surgery.
Katoa has been ruled out for the entire 2026 season after suffering a brain bleed playing for Tonga in the Pacific Championships, undergoing emergency surgery in New Zealand earlier this month.
Eli Katoa was helped from the field after a horror incident while playing for Tonga.Credit: Getty Images
The 25-year-old’s career has been placed on hold - with fears he may not play again - after he required oxygen on the sidelines at Mount Smart Stadium and was rushed to hospital.
Katoa suffered three head knocks in the space of 90 minutes, with handling of his injury prompting an investigation by the NRL, the results of which are yet to be released to the public.
Katoa’s recovery has continued after his return to Melbourne, and on Saturday night he commented at length for the first time since being hospitalised.
“I’m back at home at the moment and I’m in a good place now,” Katoa posted on Instagram.
“My recovery is going well and hopefully I can keep ticking all of the boxes that I need!
“And to the Storm fans, in God’s timing ‘I’ll be back soon’.”
Katoa thanked people for their messages and prayers, and the Storm club for its support.
“A special thank you to the Storm for all of the help and support that you guys are continuing to provide, I appreciate it,” he wrote.
Katoa made specific mention of the Tongan team after criticism of their handling of a pre-game collision with teammate Lehi Hopoate, which also featured on TV coverage.
Melbourne will receive salary cap dispensation to replace Katoa next season, with former Knights enforcer Jack Hetherington linked to the club.
“To all of my family, thank you for the love and support,” Katoa wrote.
“To the (Tonga Test team), the team that we love. I wanna (sic) say a massive thank you. The quality time that we had in camp was unreal.
“Thank you guys for the help in camp! I love playing for our little Kingdom.
“To my girl (partner), this woman has been amazing, strong and sticking by my side through it all. I appreciate you and I love you so much.
“A special thank you to the Storm for all of the help and the support that you guys are continuing to provide, I appreciate it.”
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