Eli Katoa is continuing his recovery from head knocks that forced him to have brain surgery. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)
In short:
Tonga's head and assistant doctors, and head trainer have been issued breach notices by the NRL.
The league launched an investigation into the incident involving Eli Katoa in the Test against New Zealand last month.
Katoa required brain surgery and will miss the 2026 NRL season.
Three Tonga team officials are facing two-year suspensions following the NRL's investigation into the incident that forced Eli Katoa out of the 2026 season.
Katoa suffered multiple head knocks during Tonga's Pacific Championship Test against New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park on November 2.
He is continuing his recovery from the head knocks that required him to have brain surgery.
The NRL issued breach notices to the Tonga team's head and assistant doctors, and head trainer relating to Katoa's on-field treatment.
The breach notices propose the head and assistant doctors be banned from working with any club, team or player in NRL and representative competitions for no less than two years.
The proposed ban for the head trainer is two years, while the NRL has also handed down a formal warning to the team's medical assistant.
The team officials have five business days to respond to the breach notices.
"The NRL is continuing to support Mr Katoa and his family during his important recovery," an NRL statement read.
"The investigation has identified a number of serious concerns regarding possible breaches of the NRL rules and protocols by a number of individuals in the way that Mr Katoa was treated.
"These concerns relate to a possible breakdown in communication between responsible medical and health professionals in relation to the safety of Mr Katoa, including through a failure to share and disclose information that was vital to the health of the player.
"The NRL rules and protocols exist to protect player safety and wellbeing and must be followed."
Katoa collided with teammate Lehi Hopoate before the Test against New Zealand and then received two more head knocks during the match.
He suffered seizure activity on the sideline and was taken to hospital, where he had surgery on a brain bleed.
The Storm back-rower remained in Auckland for weeks before returning to Melbourne, where he underwent further testing under the care of hospital specialists.