The future of Storm star Eli Katoa in the NRL remains uncertain, as revealed by Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.
Following a series of three head injuries within 90 minutes during a Pacific Championships Test for Tonga against New Zealand last year, Katoa was hospitalized.
He underwent surgery in Auckland to address brain bleeding and subsequently returned to Melbourne, where it was decided he would miss the 2026 season.
After three rounds into the new season, Bellamy shared that Katoa is "doing really well at the moment," but emphasized that it is still too premature to determine a timetable for his return to the game.
"I don't know whether he'll play next year. I don't know whether he'll play again," he stated during an appearance on Seven's The Agenda Setters.
"The doctors haven't made that decision yet and I don't know when that decision will get made. After a certain amount of time, he'll have more tests and go from there."
"It was a major injury and we certainly want El to be able to live the rest of his life in a normal way."
"Fingers crossed, but we'd love to have him back playing footy. He was one hell of a player for the couple of years he's been with us and last year he won the player of the year."
In the meantime, Katoa, who is a two-time Dally M back rower of the year, has taken on a mentoring role with the Storm, assisting his back row replacements, including Joe Chan, Ativalu Lisati, and the promising teenage talent Cooper Clarke.