Tonga’s Eliesa Katoa didn’t just have a tough day at work. He had a potentially life-threatening injury on the footy field - and it’s hard not to shake the feeling it could’ve been avoided.

During Mate Ma’a Tonga’s Pacific Championship clash against the Kiwis at Eden Park on Sunday, the Melbourne Storm forward took three head knocks, causing him to experience seizures and an eventual brain bleed. 

The 25-year-old was stretchered off with an oxygen mask and rushed to the hospital for emergency brain surgery. 

His first head knock was the notable one, which happened in warm-ups when he took a shoulder to the face from his teammate Lehi Hopoate. Katoa is seen immediately falling to the ground. 

The fact that he’s now stable and recovering is a miracle. But the fact that he was ever allowed back out there after the first knock? Madness.

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf said after the match that his job was “not to question doctors”. He said that the trainers were “comfortable” with him being back on the field. 

So, what went wrong? How did oversight fail Katoa? 

The loophole that nearly cost his life

Under NRL rules, independent doctors sit in the bunker during games, reviewing every hit for possible concussion. On the sideline, trainers are there to flag anything worrying and assess players on the ground. 

Similarly, during training, spotters are present to monitor for head knocks, and each contact session is videoed, allowing all head knocks to be reviewed. 

Here’s the kicker - there are no rules for pre-game. 

There’s no mandatory medical oversight during warm-ups. No video review of pre-game collisions. No independent checks before a ball is kicked. 

This is how Katoa’s blow slipped through the cracks. While he was cleared after a ‘quick look’ from Tonga’s staff, they didn’t take him for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and admitted they didn’t see the replay until after the game had finished. 

Both of these are concerning. Allegedly, it wasn’t seen by staff due to a lack of pre-game procedure. On top of that, he was cleared? After taking a HUGE knock like that? 

While World Rugby has its Head Injury Assessment (HIA) protocols, even these have been criticized for patchy oversight and lack of community-wide implementation. 

This is not a grey area. This is a hole in player safety - and this time, it nearly ended in tragedy.

The fallout

The rugby league world is, rightfully so, fuming, with current and former players giving their sentiments to Katoa and calling out the poor treatment of the young man. 

Former Warriors star Shaun Johnson said on the Play On Sports Show he was “furious” and reckons “heads will roll.”

Jazz Tevaga, who was Katoa’s teammate at the Warriors, said it “should never have happened.” 

Fans online called it “disgraceful,” with some even suggesting Katoa retire rather than risk his long-term health.

Kiwi coach Stacey Jones, who chose his words carefully, admitted “there should be scrutiny around it.” Otherwise known as: this can’t be swept under the rug.

The NRL has launched a review into the incident and its handling, most notably the warm-up knock.

I’d say all league fans are crossing fingers and toes that there are some changes made, because if not, ‘player welfare’ is just a slogan. 

What needs to change?

I think it’s clear that Katoa’s case should be evidence that warm-ups need more due diligence. They should be monitored for head knocks, as training and games are. 

Also, in my non-medical, non-expert opinion, there should be no lackadaisical treatment of a head knock. This kind of collision should NOT have been treated with a ‘quick test’.

As many league fans and players are saying, it’s questionable that Katoa was given the green light to play by Tonga’s medical staff. 

Thirdly, independent medical staff should have authority across all international matches - not just NRL premiership games - so player welfare is consistent, no matter what jersey they’re wearing. 

I’d predict that the Melbourne Storm are going to have some serious feelings about Katoa not being protected in their off-season. 

The NRL’s own concussion guidelines say “the most important element in the management of concussion must always be the welfare of the player.” After Katoa’s ordeal, that line needs to mean something.

Because next time, we might not be so lucky.

It has been confirmed that Eli Katoa is out of intensive care and in stable condition. And we are all so grateful he’s okay. 

But this is a wake-up call. No tackle, test, or tournament is worth a player’s life.