In an unprecedented and severe crackdown, the National Rugby League (NRL) has proposed suspending three Tonga XIII officials from the sport for two years.
This follows its investigation into the serious injury suffered by forward Eliesa Katoa during a match at Eden Park, New Zealand, on November 2, 2025.
The investigation, launched after the concerning incident, has uncovered “a number of serious concerns regarding possible breaches of the NRL Rules and protocols” in the treatment of the star player.
Central to the findings is what the NRL describes as “a possible breakdown in communication between responsible medical and health professionals” regarding Katoa’s safety.
The league specifically cited “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,” the league stated firmly in its release.
As a result, the NRL has issued breach notices to four Tonga XIII officials, proposing heavy sanctions.
The Head Doctor and Assistant Doctor for the Tongan side each face a prohibition from involvement with any NRL club, representative team, or player for “a period of no less than 24 months.”
The Orange Shirt Head Trainer faces an identical 24-month ban.
A fourth official, the Yellow Shirt Medical Assistant, has been issued a formal warning.
All four individuals will also be mandated to undergo further training on concussion protocols and their responsibilities under NRL rules. They have five business days to respond to the breach notices before final determinations are made.
The NRL reiterated that all on-field trainers and medical personnel are required to annually complete the league’s Elite Head Injury/Concussion protocols and maintain strict medical qualifications.
“The NRL is continuing to support Mr Katoa and his family during his important recovery,” the statement concluded, underscoring the human element at the heart of the disciplinary action.
This decisive move signals the NRL’s strongest-ever stance on enforcing its concussion safety standards, setting a new benchmark for accountability among team medical staff.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf at the time defended team doctors, saying everything was “done by the book”.
“We’ve got two very experienced doctors there,” he said. “They’ve done their usual HIA. He’s passed all that and passed all that well.
“My job is not to question doctors. They were both comfortable with that and comfortable with him coming back onto the field, so I don’t think there’s anything to worry about there in terms of the process.”
