Eli Katoa injury update : Some of Samoa’s top stars are urging medical teams to take stronger action to protect players and prevent another incident like the one involving Eli Katoa.
Two of Samoa’s leading stars have urged medical officials throughout the sport to prioritize player welfare, emphasizing that health and safety must come before the pride of representing club or country.
Their appeal follows the alarming incident involving Tonga’s Eli Katoa, who was hospitalized after experiencing seizure activity and brain bleeding caused by three head knocks during his team’s Pacific Championships loss to New Zealand.
Katoa shared an update from his hospital bed on Monday morning, and the Melbourne Storm later confirmed he was in stable condition after undergoing surgery on Sunday night.
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Tonga coach Kristian Woolf defended his team’s medical staff after the match, insisting that all protocols had been followed correctly.
Pre-game footage showed Katoa suffer a heavy collision with teammate Lehi Hopoate — a blow many believed would rule him out of the game. However, reports suggest that no head injury assessment was conducted at the time, allowing Katoa to start the match. He was later taken off after sustaining another head knock just nine minutes in.
Although Katoa passed that initial HIA, he left the field midway through the second half as his condition worsened following a third head knock within two hours. The Melbourne Storm back-rower was placed on an oxygen mask, removed from the field on a medi-cab, and quickly transported to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Eli Katoa Hospitalized After Multiple Head Knocks in Pacific Championships
Maintaining a safe environment for all players falls under the responsibility of the NRL,” said Rugby League Players Association chief operating officer Luke Ellis in a statement.
Alongside our own investigation, we’ll rely on them to review the situation thoroughly and determine exactly what happened,” the statement continued.
Players rarely withdraw themselves from a match, especially when so much is at stake — a point highlighted by Samoan veteran Junior Paulo, who urged medical officials to make those difficult calls on behalf of the players.
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As a player, it definitely hits home. My prayers are with Eli and his family during this difficult time,” Paulo said in Sydney ahead of Sunday’s Pacific Championships final against New Zealand.
We, as footy players, will almost never say no to representing our country and stepping onto the field. But ultimately, it’s up to those in charge to ensure protocols are properly followed — and I’m sure they were. Putting your health before your career is the key message we all need to take from this.
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This isn’t about putting pressure on those responsible for making the tough calls, but their primary duty is to prioritize the player’s health and safety above all else,” he said.
Most rugby league players would never turn down the chance to play — whether it’s representing their country or competing in the NRL. “This is our passion and what drives us, so it’s never easy to step aside.
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But that’s exactly why protocols exist — to protect us when health concerns make it unsafe to return to the field.
Teammate Jarome Luai echoed the sentiment, saying, “I wasn’t there and don’t know exactly what condition he was in during the game, but it’s heartbreaking to hear. This should be a reminder to take care of our players — and to look after yourself first.”
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