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Rising Storm back-rower Eliesa Katoa lost his vision first in his left eye, then his right.<\/p>\n
Happily for the Tongan-born edge runner, a significantly upgraded extension to one 2023\u2019s best bargain contracts was being put together while he worried he \u201ccould be blind for the rest of my life\u201d.<\/p>\n
Even better, Katoa\u2019s sight began to return after a mind-numbing week spent lying face-down on a massage table did the trick.<\/p>\n
Katoa arrived in Melbourne last November on around $200,000 a year after a promising 2020 rookie season with the Warriors had fizzled out into an early release.<\/p>\n
By the end of Melbourne\u2019s pre-season, the 23-year-old was rated one of their best trainers, and by mid-June he had claimed Felise Kaufusi\u2019s old back-row spot as his own.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then it was just a bit of friendly fire \u2013 Welchy [captain Christian Welch] poked me in the eye against Cronulla and I had a bit of a tear in my eye,\u201d Katoa says.<\/p>\n
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Eliesa Katoa with a Storm trainer after copping friendly fire from Christian Welch against Cronulla.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>NRL Imagery<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a tear [injury] above the retina and I had to get surgery on that. And I\u2019d actually had that surgery before on my left eye, it was really similar a few years ago after I [had] got a poke in that eye.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first time it was ok, a couple of days after surgery I was sweet. My vision came back with that one really quickly and it was in the off-season.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year\u2019s one, though, that was no good. I completely lost my vision after it had happened and it was much scarier than the first one. At one point I thought I could be blind for the rest of my life.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a tough way to be thinking when you\u2019re stuck on a massage table. I couldn\u2019t do a thing except lie face-down for a week, 24-7. That was how the eye had to heal and settle down.<\/p>\n Like most at Melbourne, Eliesa Katoa wasn\u2019t happy with his performance against Brisbane.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>NRL Imagery<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cThe liquid they put in after surgery had to settle there, so I couldn\u2019t move around with it, I just had my head in this hole in the table, staring at my phone under the table.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was not fun, I can tell you. Your brain goes weird places when you\u2019re like that, so I\u2019m very glad I\u2019m OK.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Katoa\u2019s return, a three-year extension to stay with the Storm until the end of 2027 \u2013 the equal-longest terms at the club – was locked in.<\/p>\n And when Katoa came back after six weeks out, his impact was immediate.<\/p>\n In the six games since his eye injury, Katoa has helped himself to five tries, four line-breaks and 19 tackle busts outside Jahrome Hughes. Missed tackles and penalties in Melbourne\u2019s 26-0 loss to Brisbane still grate with Katoa, though.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was my first finals game and I was probably in the wrong mindset,\u201d Katoa says. \u201cI needed to calm down a bit and focus on the little things in my game, that was the biggest learning. My job is those little things, not the massive plays, so that\u2019s what I\u2019ll look at against the Roosters.\u201d<\/p>\n Watching all the while will be his family and Mum Akanesi from the tiny Tongan village of Koulo, where Katoa was raised until he was 17.<\/p>\n It was a one-TV town until Katoa\u2019s rise at the Warriors saw Anthony Seuseu \u2013 a one-game Warrior and brother of club favourite Jerry – organise a new television for his family to keep up with the NRL.<\/p>\n When Katoa fell down the pecking order in Auckland and Stephen Kearney urged the Storm to pursue him, Melbourne eventually came calling for the rest of the Katoa clan too.<\/p>\n \u201cMum\u2019s first time on a plane and first time out of Tonga \u2013 she came and visited earlier this year,\u201d Katoa says. \u201cShe loved it, everything except the Melbourne weather and she\u2019s really happy for me and how everything\u2019s worked out with the Storm so far.\u201d<\/p>\n Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on <\/b>9Now<\/b>. <\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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