The Melbourne Storm are gearing up for the 2026 season with a renewed sense of purpose, fueled by the determination to honor Eli Katoa's resilience in the face of adversity. Katoa, a star player for the Storm, suffered a season-ending injury after a series of head knocks during the Pacific Championships last November. Despite the setback, the team is rallying around Katoa, with emerging talent stepping up to fill his shoes. Among the contenders to replace Katoa on the right edge is versatile forward Ativalu Lisati, who had a breakout 2025 campaign, earning a bench spot in the grand final loss to Brisbane. Lisati, who turns 25 later this week, has been doing light work at training and is a logical choice to replace Katoa. However, Joe Chan and new recruit Jack Hetherington are also in the running. With the departure of key players like Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, the Storm faces a challenging year ahead, but the team is confident and determined to prove their doubters wrong.
