Eliesa Katoa of Tonga (C) during New Zealand Kiwis v Tonga XIII, round 3 of the Pacific Championships at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday 2 November 2025. Photo: Fiona Goodall / Photosport Photo: www.photosport.nz
Tonga rugby league player and Melbourne Storm forward 'Eliesa Katoa is "recovering well" at the Auckland Hospital.
Tonga Rugby League (TRL) president Lord Fakafanua said they have been monitoring the NRL star's condition.
He said the TRL has been advised that Katoa is recovering well, following surgery last week as a result of head knocks he received during the Tonga and New Zealand Kiwis Pacific Championships match in Auckland.
"We've been monitoring and keeping a close eye on Katoa's condition," Lord Fakafanua told RNZ Pacific on Tuesday.
"He seems to be recovering well."
Lord Fakafanua said they understand that there is investigation by the NRL into the circumstances that led to his hospitalisation.
Although he had indicated earlier that the TRL will release an official statement on that, this will have to wait for a while.
"There won't be any official statement until at least he is discharged," he confirmed.
The NRL and the NRL Players Association were investigating the circumstances that led to Katoa being allowed to continue to play against New Zealand, eventhough he received a serious head knock in pre-game warm up at Eden Park.
Media reports in Australia said the NRL investigation is complete, but findings will not be released until the league has a better picture of Katoa's recovery.
A family friend said the player is recovering and resting well, with possibility that he would be released this week.
Tonga head coach Kristian Woolf defended the decision to let Katoa play at a post-match press conference, saying the doctors had cleared the player.
"We've got two very experienced doctors there," Woolf told reporters at the time.
"They've done their usual HIA. He's passed all that and passed all that well," Woolf said, according to Australian media.
"My job is not to question doctors. They were both comfortable with that and comfortable with him coming back onto the field.
"So, I don't think there's anything to worry about there in terms of the process."
