November 22, 2025 • 9 mins
Melbourne Storm star Eli Katoa is set to miss the 2026 NRL season, as he continues his recovery from head knocks that forced him to have brain surgery.
Katoa suffered some head knocks while on test duty with Tonga during the season-ending Pacific Championships.
Kiwis doctor Greg McLeod joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB move.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
To Rugby League. Melbourne Storm forward Ali Kartaua won't play
in the NRL next year. The club have confirmed he
won't be available for the twenty twenty six season after
he needed emergency brain surgery and the wake of tong
has lost to the Kiwis in Auckland. Earlier this month,
the twenty five year old former Warriors player was rushed
to hospital having taken three head knocks before and during
(00:36):
the Pacific Championship test. Storm CEO Justin Rodsky says cart
Tower has returned to Melbourne, but after consultation with the
club's doctor and some neuro specialists, he will not be
available in twenty twenty six. Let's get some further insight
into this. Kiwis doctor Greg McLoud is with us. Greg,
thanks for taking the time for a chat this afternoon.
(00:58):
What was your overall assessment of what played out in
the case of Ali Carta?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Oh? I think so and thanks for time. So firstly,
what played out? My heart goes out to Ellen his Stamley.
I know it's a pretty traumatic event and I'm devastating
him for the head of the season and how applaud
the Melbourne Storm for giving them the time to recover. So, yeah,
very unfortunate events. But I guess we need to take
some learnings from that. Of course, you know what happened
(01:28):
was you know, you sort everyone needs to reflect on that,
not not only about what happened, but how that could
be prevented. Certainly the situation that unfolded. You know, there
are obviously multiple what seems to me seemed with multiple
steps there that perhaps there could have been some change
at certain levels. And I know the n has done
some independent investigation that and hopefully we'll get some learnings
(01:49):
for that. But what we take from that is a
second there is a collective responsibility to make sure we
hopefully don't see anything like that again. There's no you know,
there's seen some practical music but in place, but the
changing type of attitude towards head injuries in the SHO
needs to continue to change, which it is, but it
(02:10):
needs to hopefully catch up a bit quicker.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
This was a slightly unusual situation and that he took
ahead knock before the game started during during the warm ups.
How common is that and is there a protocol for
situations like that.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, I think this is what the learning, one of
the major learning is why hopefully what we should take
from us is that it has higher other potential gap
in the game in my opinion. You know, we do
have increasing types and measures that happened during the game
with independent concussion spots and the bunker system, which is
a good thing, and I think we should continue to
support that model. But you know, what happened the warm up,
(02:49):
there's still an era which injuries can happen, which you
know obviously was a case there. And you know, while
there was a video footage of that which emerged, that
wasn't actually that was on broadcast news for broadcast footage.
And perhaps there need to be some extension of the
courage of spotters and formal coverage of that for available
(03:11):
for sort of monitoring and review to extend into the
warm up, because that's clearly an injury reskt on as
it's eventuated. But it's probably a gap there which we've
now since seen and realized that po potent. You could
make some movements there.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
You talk before Greg quite rightly about practical applications, practical
steps that can be taken, but also attitudes. Is there
still a big challenge in getting players to admit when
they've taken a knock to the heat.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
It is, and there's some very good research through Tom Longworth,
who was Performers REUSS doctor the prend of NROL experience
at a nice class sectional study in twenty twenty one
on the attitude and reporting of specifically elite rugged players
in the NRL aback reporting, seventeen percent admitted to not
reporting percussion symptoms. That was then fall five years ago. Now,
(04:01):
so you would like to think things are changing, but
I do think there is obviously still an element of
underreporting that happens, and that's really differentive. It's a tricky
era because I guess that comes down to motivation to
report and not report it. You know, if you look
at the situation that happened on in the Pacific Championships,
young man making you know, about to play for his
(04:23):
country in a crucially important match. You know, I don't
know what was going through his head. I don't know
what happened. I don't know if there was even a
discussion of that. But that might be a very different
scenario to someone who's playing in an er player has
been dropped to the reserve grade and in that bottom
of the ladder. So you know, there's all these intrinsic
motivations and there's external ones too, but you know, po
(04:44):
tendency is there if I don't play, what does that mean?
Will I lose my face for that guarantee their contract?
So sort of multi variable pressures I imagine that would
influence that. But we do know that concussion symptoms are underreported.
I don't know what the current rate is, but it's
a very well recognized fact that it does happen.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Just a clarity, Greg, it does take a head not
let's bring it into the game where it's most common.
If a player takes a head not during the game
and it has to come off, or actually, let's take
a back if a play takes a head not during
a game. What is the protocol? What is your responsibility
as part of the medical team.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
So yes, as I mentioned in the side of it's
a collective responsibility. So it's you know, gathering the colater
information about who saw what, and there are processes, a
formul a place of that, and you know each team
has their own sort of you know, personal relationships with
the onfield stuff and supporting those are good ones, but
collective responsibility to see and act and report about what
(05:41):
you've seen. And that's not only just you know, staff
and field, it's you know, you might see something on
the sideline and other players are actually getting better at
the too. As often we do take a cherisy and
teammate sers it's not or so, I mean he's not good.
We take that very seriously because they might see something
we don't, you know. So there's a collective responsibility about
recognizing potentially something happening in acting up, so you know,
(06:05):
going to the videos and have a look at that
very quickly, you know, and having a low threshold to
have a safety first, so when in doubt we take it,
reach them, an't we take them off, because there's no
harm in really bringing someone off for fifteen minutes and
working out that day find and perhaps maybe it was
a cautious called bringer. I think that's always something that
should or certainly would be the practice in most peoples
(06:28):
in the game. That could be the way we're moving
is just if you're not sure, just let's get them
off and check them out. So having a low threshold,
I gets some suspension for you know, it's it's something
something happened until we prove it didn't. If that makes
any sense.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
It does, isn't it a potential for tension between medical
stuff and high performance stuff. Coach is signing, Hi, he's fine.
I want to bag on there.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Look, I want to know that's probably been a discussion
and a flavor of what's potentially gone past. Again, that
comes down to education and understanding concussion in the wider context. Again,
it's a collective response to the least a lot of
I think discussion before you get to that point. So
you know, if you know, this is certainly something that
I do in my blacks, I've done with my coaches
(07:12):
in the science Yeason, we have an open yd this.
Sometimes this is effect of the matter of the game.
It's contacts or people will get head injuries, and it
is what it is. We have to look after the
player and getting by in is you know, certainly can
be very I understand that people are bit different, but
having a good relationship with medical staff and performance staff
(07:34):
is crucial, and I think we're moving close and closer
to that as we say, more normal thing. And I
think within the introduction of the independent system has created
an opportunity there or at least a discussion, but that
sometimes that might not necessarily be a decision. So that's
actually made it a bit easier for team stuff. You know,
(07:55):
they were taken off independently. It wasn't there is no
stake in the game, and the person's not right and
someone else is agreeing with me, So that's it's becoming
less and necessive mission certain not an issue that I
come across at all.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
That's great to hear, and just to Finn's just back
to this specific case and it's it's a it's a
terrible case and the consequences are are significant. A year
out of the game, do you think the seriousness of
this and the consequence is now faced by Eli Cartor
because of it will serve as a lake up cause
the right the right phrase a cautionary tale? Will it?
Will it? Will it improve attitudes? Do you think or
(08:30):
help to improve player attitudes about head knocks?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I certainly, I do think it will. I certainly hope so,
I hope while it was an unfortunate incident, I hope
I hope we do all take some learnings from that
and how to prevent and and not end up in
a situation that I mean, it's just often I'm glad
he's he's okay. His future is a bit uncertain, which
is very unfortunate. But hopefully we will all take some
(08:56):
caution in the wind with regards to you know, these
things head knocks and you should never underestimate them because
you know it's it's not in a cases she'll be right,
it's something sometimes that turned out a bit worse. So
i'd hope so I hope you'd hope that will serve
as a as a learning point for future education decisions
(09:19):
discussions which are all upcoming tall upon us now at
pre season has just started everywhere across in the rowland.
Hopefully that could be a very topical reminder that we
need to take this seriously.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Let's hope. So, Greg, you've provided superb in side and expertise.
Thanks for joining us this afternoon. It's my pleasure that
is Greg McLeod. He is was the key with doctor
in that Test match actually and providing excellent insight there.
Let's hope that our lessons are learned.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk ZB weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB move.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
To Rugby League. Melbourne Storm forward Ali Kartaua won't play
in the NRL next year. The club have confirmed he
won't be available for the twenty twenty six season after
he needed emergency brain surgery and the wake of tong
has lost to the Kiwis in Auckland. Earlier this month,
the twenty five year old former Warriors player was rushed
to hospital having taken three head knocks before and during
(00:36):
the Pacific Championship test. Storm CEO Justin Rodsky says cart
Tower has returned to Melbourne, but after consultation with the
club's doctor and some neuro specialists, he will not be
available in twenty twenty six. Let's get some further insight
into this. Kiwis doctor Greg McLoud is with us. Greg,
thanks for taking the time for a chat this afternoon.
(00:58):
What was your overall assessment of what played out in
the case of Ali Carta?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Oh? I think so and thanks for time. So firstly,
what played out? My heart goes out to Ellen his Stamley.
I know it's a pretty traumatic event and I'm devastating
him for the head of the season and how applaud
the Melbourne Storm for giving them the time to recover. So, yeah,
very unfortunate events. But I guess we need to take
some learnings from that. Of course, you know what happened
(01:28):
was you know, you sort everyone needs to reflect on that,
not not only about what happened, but how that could
be prevented. Certainly the situation that unfolded. You know, there
are obviously multiple what seems to me seemed with multiple
steps there that perhaps there could have been some change
at certain levels. And I know the n has done
some independent investigation that and hopefully we'll get some learnings
(01:49):
for that. But what we take from that is a
second there is a collective responsibility to make sure we
hopefully don't see anything like that again. There's no you know,
there's seen some practical music but in place, but the
changing type of attitude towards head injuries in the SHO
needs to continue to change, which it is, but it
(02:10):
needs to hopefully catch up a bit quicker.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
This was a slightly unusual situation and that he took
ahead knock before the game started during during the warm ups.
How common is that and is there a protocol for
situations like that.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, I think this is what the learning, one of
the major learning is why hopefully what we should take
from us is that it has higher other potential gap
in the game in my opinion. You know, we do
have increasing types and measures that happened during the game
with independent concussion spots and the bunker system, which is
a good thing, and I think we should continue to
support that model. But you know, what happened the warm up,
(02:49):
there's still an era which injuries can happen, which you
know obviously was a case there. And you know, while
there was a video footage of that which emerged, that
wasn't actually that was on broadcast news for broadcast footage.
And perhaps there need to be some extension of the
courage of spotters and formal coverage of that for available
(03:11):
for sort of monitoring and review to extend into the
warm up, because that's clearly an injury reskt on as
it's eventuated. But it's probably a gap there which we've
now since seen and realized that po potent. You could
make some movements there.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
You talk before Greg quite rightly about practical applications, practical
steps that can be taken, but also attitudes. Is there
still a big challenge in getting players to admit when
they've taken a knock to the heat.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
It is, and there's some very good research through Tom Longworth,
who was Performers REUSS doctor the prend of NROL experience
at a nice class sectional study in twenty twenty one
on the attitude and reporting of specifically elite rugged players
in the NRL aback reporting, seventeen percent admitted to not
reporting percussion symptoms. That was then fall five years ago. Now,
(04:01):
so you would like to think things are changing, but
I do think there is obviously still an element of
underreporting that happens, and that's really differentive. It's a tricky
era because I guess that comes down to motivation to
report and not report it. You know, if you look
at the situation that happened on in the Pacific Championships,
young man making you know, about to play for his
(04:23):
country in a crucially important match. You know, I don't
know what was going through his head. I don't know
what happened. I don't know if there was even a
discussion of that. But that might be a very different
scenario to someone who's playing in an er player has
been dropped to the reserve grade and in that bottom
of the ladder. So you know, there's all these intrinsic
motivations and there's external ones too, but you know, po
(04:44):
tendency is there if I don't play, what does that mean?
Will I lose my face for that guarantee their contract?
So sort of multi variable pressures I imagine that would
influence that. But we do know that concussion symptoms are underreported.
I don't know what the current rate is, but it's
a very well recognized fact that it does happen.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Just a clarity, Greg, it does take a head not
let's bring it into the game where it's most common.
If a player takes a head not during the game
and it has to come off, or actually, let's take
a back if a play takes a head not during
a game. What is the protocol? What is your responsibility
as part of the medical team.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
So yes, as I mentioned in the side of it's
a collective responsibility. So it's you know, gathering the colater
information about who saw what, and there are processes, a
formul a place of that, and you know each team
has their own sort of you know, personal relationships with
the onfield stuff and supporting those are good ones, but
collective responsibility to see and act and report about what
(05:41):
you've seen. And that's not only just you know, staff
and field, it's you know, you might see something on
the sideline and other players are actually getting better at
the too. As often we do take a cherisy and
teammate sers it's not or so, I mean he's not good.
We take that very seriously because they might see something
we don't, you know. So there's a collective responsibility about
recognizing potentially something happening in acting up, so you know,
(06:05):
going to the videos and have a look at that
very quickly, you know, and having a low threshold to
have a safety first, so when in doubt we take it,
reach them, an't we take them off, because there's no
harm in really bringing someone off for fifteen minutes and
working out that day find and perhaps maybe it was
a cautious called bringer. I think that's always something that
should or certainly would be the practice in most peoples
(06:28):
in the game. That could be the way we're moving
is just if you're not sure, just let's get them
off and check them out. So having a low threshold,
I gets some suspension for you know, it's it's something
something happened until we prove it didn't. If that makes
any sense.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
It does, isn't it a potential for tension between medical
stuff and high performance stuff. Coach is signing, Hi, he's fine.
I want to bag on there.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Look, I want to know that's probably been a discussion
and a flavor of what's potentially gone past. Again, that
comes down to education and understanding concussion in the wider context. Again,
it's a collective response to the least a lot of
I think discussion before you get to that point. So
you know, if you know, this is certainly something that
I do in my blacks, I've done with my coaches
(07:12):
in the science Yeason, we have an open yd this.
Sometimes this is effect of the matter of the game.
It's contacts or people will get head injuries, and it
is what it is. We have to look after the
player and getting by in is you know, certainly can
be very I understand that people are bit different, but
having a good relationship with medical staff and performance staff
(07:34):
is crucial, and I think we're moving close and closer
to that as we say, more normal thing. And I
think within the introduction of the independent system has created
an opportunity there or at least a discussion, but that
sometimes that might not necessarily be a decision. So that's
actually made it a bit easier for team stuff. You know,
(07:55):
they were taken off independently. It wasn't there is no
stake in the game, and the person's not right and
someone else is agreeing with me, So that's it's becoming
less and necessive mission certain not an issue that I
come across at all.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
That's great to hear, and just to Finn's just back
to this specific case and it's it's a it's a
terrible case and the consequences are are significant. A year
out of the game, do you think the seriousness of
this and the consequence is now faced by Eli Cartor
because of it will serve as a lake up cause
the right the right phrase a cautionary tale? Will it?
Will it? Will it improve attitudes? Do you think or
(08:30):
help to improve player attitudes about head knocks?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I certainly, I do think it will. I certainly hope so,
I hope while it was an unfortunate incident, I hope
I hope we do all take some learnings from that
and how to prevent and and not end up in
a situation that I mean, it's just often I'm glad
he's he's okay. His future is a bit uncertain, which
is very unfortunate. But hopefully we will all take some
(08:56):
caution in the wind with regards to you know, these
things head knocks and you should never underestimate them because
you know it's it's not in a cases she'll be right,
it's something sometimes that turned out a bit worse. So
i'd hope so I hope you'd hope that will serve
as a as a learning point for future education decisions
(09:19):
discussions which are all upcoming tall upon us now at
pre season has just started everywhere across in the rowland.
Hopefully that could be a very topical reminder that we
need to take this seriously.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Let's hope. So, Greg, you've provided superb in side and expertise.
Thanks for joining us this afternoon. It's my pleasure that
is Greg McLeod. He is was the key with doctor
in that Test match actually and providing excellent insight there.
Let's hope that our lessons are learned.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk ZB weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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