The Melbourne Storm squad is channeling the adversity of Eli Katoa’s season-ending injury into a powerful source of motivation for the 2026 campaign. Katoa, the reigning Dally M Second Rower of the Year, was officially ruled out for the season after sustaining a series of head knocks while representing Tonga in the Pacific Championships last November. His condition necessitated a two-week hospitalization in Auckland before specialists confirmed he would not return to play this year.
Despite the devastating prognosis, Katoa’s recent presence at training sessions, where he has been engaged in light duties, has provided an emotional lift for both teammates and fans. Versatile forward Ativalu Lisati revealed the profound impact of having Katoa around the facility, stating, ‘He’s been going through it tough, so to see him on the field is a motivation for us boys to do a job for him this year. The boys have been getting around him and we still joke around with him and laugh.’
Lisati emerges as the most logical candidate to fill the void left by the international superstar on the right edge, following his breakout 2025 campaign that earned him a bench spot in the grand final against Brisbane. The 25-year-old, who recently signed a two-year contract extension after winning the club’s Billy Slater Rookie of the Year Award, expressed his willingness to adapt to any role required by coach Craig Bellamy.
The Storm face significant challenges beyond Katoa’s absence, having lost key players including Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona. These departures have led external pundits to predict the potential end of Melbourne’s dynasty. However, Lisati remains confident in the squad’s depth, noting, ‘We’ve got a great group of players who are ready to step in and take those roles. We’re confident and we’re just trying to get in as many repetitions at training.’
Reflecting on the heartbreaking grand final loss, Lisati acknowledged the disappointment while emphasizing the valuable lessons learned: ‘It was a tough pill to swallow… But there was still stuff to celebrate with the team because getting to a grand final is an accomplishment.’ As the back-to-back grand finalists prepare to defy expectations, the combination of Katoa’s inspirational presence and emerging talents like Lisati could prove crucial to their continued success.