Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Eli Katoa awaits medical clearance after career-threatening head injury
Eli Katoa suffered repeated head knocks while playing for Tonga against New Zealand last November.
After a third blow, he had a seizure and underwent emergency surgery to remove fluid from his brain.
He has not played since and is awaiting medical clearance to return to rugby league.
The Melbourne Storm forward is back with Tonga’s team as a trainer, but not as a player.
Tonga face New Zealand in a World Cup semi-final in Newcastle on Saturday.
Katoa says he is heading in the right direction, and scans in Melbourne after the World Cup will assess his return.
Three Tonga medical staff were suspended for two years after an NRL investigation into his head knocks.
Eli Katoa is awaiting medical clearance to return to rugby league after a career-threatening head injury in a Tonga match last November.
After three blows to the head, he failed a head impact assessment, suffered a seizure and underwent emergency surgery to remove fluid from his brain.
He has not played since the injury and is currently with Tonga as a trainer during the World Cup.
Katoa says he wants to return to playing and will have scans in Melbourne after the World Cup.
Three members of Tonga’s medical staff were suspended for two years after an NRL investigation.
- Who
- Eli Katoa, a Melbourne Storm back-rower and Tonga international.
- What
- He is awaiting medical clearance to return to playing after a serious head injury.
- When
- The injury happened last November; scans are planned after the World Cup.
- Where
- The injury occurred during a Pacific Championship match against New Zealand. He was taken to a hospital in Auckland.
- Why
- He suffered three blows to the head, failed a head impact assessment and later had a seizure.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Katoa was injured while representing Tonga against New Zealand in a Pacific Championship match.
Katoa failed a head impact assessment, suffered a seizure on the sideline and underwent emergency surgery in Auckland.
Katoa was with Tonga’s teammates as they celebrated a 20-18 World Cup win over Samoa.
Katoa is due to be on the sideline as Tonga play New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final.
Katoa is due to have scans in Melbourne to help determine whether he can return.
- Age
- 26
- Club
- Melbourne Storm
- Tonga’s win over Samoa
- 20-18
- Medical staff suspended
- Three Tonga medical staff received two-year suspensions
- Return assessment
- Scans in Melbourne after the World Cup
What people are saying
All I want to do is play.
I’m heading in the right direction
I’m passionate to play for my club, my family, my tiny little Kingdom of Tonga and just the love of playing.
My admiration for him is immense. It has shone brighter through his uncertainty the past 12 months.