Melbourne Storm star Eli Katoa in the hospital following his injury after a test against New Zealand earlier this month. Photo: Instagram/Supplied
Three staff from Tonga's rugby league team face a potential two-year ban from NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) competition, in the wake of the serious head injury to Eliesa Katoa.
Katoa, 25, underwent brain surgery after suffering multiple blows to the head during Tonga's Pacific Championships match against New Zealand on 2 November.
Katoa will miss the entire 2026 NRL season but is aiming to return to the game.
The NRL has investigated the incident and "identified a number of serious concerns regarding possible breaches of the NRL rules and protocols by a number of individuals in the way that Mr Katoa was treated".
"These concerns relate to a possible breakdown in communication between responsible medical and health professionals in relation to the safety of Mr Katoa, including through a failure to share and disclose information that was vital to the health of the player."
The head doctor, assistant doctor and head trainer have each been issued a breach notice stating their proposed penalties: "prohibition from being concerned, whether directly or indirectly, with any club, team or player in the NRL competitions, representative competitions or any other competition conducted under the auspices of the NRL or ARLC for a period of 24 months".
The medical assistant has been issued with a formal warning.
An injured Eliesa Katoa of Tonga is attended to by a trainer New Zealand Kiwis v Tonga XIII Round 3 of the Pacific Championships rugby league tournament at Eden Park, Auckland Photo: NRL Photos/Photosport
All four will also be required to undergo further training on their responsibilities under the NRL rules and the NRL's policy for the management of possible head injuries and concussion.
They have five business days to respond to the breach notice.
The president of Tonga Rugby League, Lord Fakafanua, said the management and medical staff of Tonga Rugby XIII have fully cooperated with the NRL throughout the investigation.
"As the medical staff have now been issued breach notices, they will respond within the designated timeframe. We are committed to respecting this process and refrain from any actions that may prejudice its outcome prior to its conclusion."
In the aftermath of the match, Tongan coach Kristian Woolf previously defended the team's process of allowing Katoa to play.
"The doctors did the usual HIA [head injury assessment]; we've got two very experienced doctors there. They've done their usual HIA and he's passed all that and passed all that well," he said.
"Unfortunately I think he's copped a second hit that was quite heavy and there's been a poor result off the back of that."
Woolf said Katoa was fine when he came back off but deteriorated after that.
Ex-Kiwi Shaun Johnson said he was angered by the situation, and Samoan player Junior Paulo said players' health being put first was the most important thing.
"We as footy players will probably never say no to turning up for your country and getting out there and playing," Paulo said a few days after the game.
"There are protocols around that and should be followed - and they probably were followed.
"In terms of putting your health before your job, that's probably the main outcome that we really want to take out of it."
