LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Former New Zealand rugby league player Shaun Johnson has criticized the handling of Eli Katoa's serious injury during the Pacific Championships match between New Zealand and Tonga at Eden Park Stadium on Sunday.
Katoa experienced seizure activity on the bench and needed oxygen before being taken off the field on a stretcher.
The Melbourne Storm player was quickly transported to a hospital, where he underwent surgery and is now on the road to recovery.
Describing the event as unsettling, Johnson, who was present at the game for media duties, remarked on The Play On Sport Show podcast: "It was scary scenes." He expressed frustration about the situation, stating, "I feel a bit angry about the situation … I don't get how it can even get to that point."
Johnson predicted significant repercussions would follow, asserting, "There's going to be fallout over this, there's going to be some heads that will roll because I do not know how Eli Katoa was actually even allowed to take the field."
Prior to the match, Katoa sustained his first head injury during the pre-game warm-up after colliding with Lehi Hopoate. Although on-field staff assessed him and concluded that he had passed his Head Injury Assessment (HIA), Johnson found this difficult to believe.