The NRL has launched a review into Tonga’s handling of Eli Katoa’s repeated head knocks after the star forward suffered “seizure activity” during their Pacific Championships defeat to the Kiwis.
Katoa was seen slouching in his seat midway through the second half, minutes after leaving the field after his third head knock, which prompted his teammates to alert medical staff.
He was fitted with an oxygen mask, put on a stretcher and taken away on a medi-cab before being transported to Auckland Hospital where he underwent surgery to remove fluid from his brain.
Katoa’s NRL club, the Melbourne Storm, say he is in a stable condition after surgery, but it could be some time before he can travel.
“Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa was taken to hospital after suffering seizure activity on the bench,” a Storm spokesperson said.
“Eli underwent surgery overnight and is in a stable condition, being supported by his partner and mother.
“Storm medical staff remain in close contact with the hospital and Tonga’s team chief medical officer.”
The Daily Telegraph reports that Storm club doctor Rebecca Beaton has been in contact with the NRL’s chief medical officer Dr Sharon Flahive over the handling of the situation.
The club’s welfare officer Young Tonumaipea has also travelled to Auckland to support Katoa.
The 25-year-old’s first knock came in the warm-up when he was on the wrong end of an accidental but sickening looking hit from teammate Lehi Hopoate as the two contested a ball.
The NRL’s independent doctor can only review incidents that occur during games, and as this incident took place beforehand, it was up to Tonga’s team doctors to review the situation. They declared him fit to play.
Katoa copped an accidental elbow from a teammate in the game’s 10th minute and came off for a head injury assessment HIA, but passed that.
In the second half, he got caught in an awkward position trying to make a tackle on Naufahu Whyte and came off second best.
As it was his second HIA, he was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the match.
Eli Katoa lucky to be running out for Tonga today after copping a brutal friendly fire hit during the warm up!
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) November 2, 2025
Must have passed all concussion assessments - hopefully no more heavy blows to the head for him today 🤞 pic.twitter.com/qj8MI8PY9B
Katoa provided an update on his Instagram page on Monday morning alongside a picture of an intravenous drip in his arm.
“Appreciate everyone for checking in, sorry if I haven’t got back to any of you guys, but I really appreciate all the love and the messages,” Katoa wrote.
Katoa’s partner Tuitofa Aloua also shared a photo, thanking fans for their support.
“TYG [thank you God] for your protection, thank you everyone for your kind words & messages,” she said. “Right beside you my love.”
The Kiwis also posted a video to their social media page showing their support for Katoa, led by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
“We just want to wish you all the best with your recovery,” Nicoll-Klokstad said.
“Just want to let you know that you’re all in our prayers, bro. May you ... be back on your feet in no time. I wish you and the family all the best, brother. Keep safe mate.”
The Rugby League Players Association’s chief operating officer Luke Ellis told the Sydney Morning Herald they were concerned for Katoa’s welfare and seeking further information.
“Ensuring a safe environment for players is the remit of the NRL,” Ellis said.
“So along with our own inquiries, we will be trusting them to work through this and understand what occurred.”
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf insisted the team doctors followed the rules “to the book”.
“Obviously it wasn’t great on the sideline,” Woolf said.
“I don’t know the full details of it... he wasn’t great on the sideline and, I’m told that he was responsive and was improving before he actually went to the hospital.
“We got two very experienced doctors there. They’ve done the usual HIA. He’s passed all that well.
“My job’s not to question doctors. They’re both comfortable with that and comfortable with him coming back onto the field.
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about there in terms of the process.
”Unfortunately, I think he’s copped a second hit that’s quite heavy and there’s been a bit of a poor result on the back of that.
“By all reports he was fine when he came back off, but he deteriorated after that.
“Everything has been done by the book.”
The incident overshadowed a great spectacle for international rugby league with more than 38,000 fans at Eden Park to watch the Kiwis claim a 40-14 win to book their place in Sunday’s Pacific Cup final against Samoa.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.