LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Te Maire Martin is prepared to support Eli Katoa's recovery from a brain bleed, though he emphasizes that comparisons between their situations should be avoided.
Katoa is anticipated to leave an Auckland hospital soon after experiencing a brain bleed and seizure activity, which followed three head knocks during a match with Tonga earlier this month.
The NRL is also expected to release its findings regarding whether Katoa should have played against New Zealand after sustaining a significant knock during the warm-up, before receiving two additional hits in the game.
In 2019, Martin made the decision to retire from the NRL prematurely after feeling unwell during warm-ups for a match against Canterbury.
Subsequent scans revealed a brain bleed, although doctors could not identify a specific head injury that triggered it.
Martin successfully returned to football two years later once his headaches and migraines subsided, re-entering the NRL in 2022.
While Katoa's immediate future in the sport remains uncertain, Martin suggested that the Melbourne star's recovery journey could potentially be less complicated.
"Because they didn't know what happened or why it happened [with me], they didn't know if it was going to happen again," Martin reflected.