Overview
- Eliesa Katoa’s family said he has been moved from intensive care to a recovery ward in an Auckland hospital.
- The NRL is continuing its investigation into how three head impacts at Eden Park were handled.
- Broadcast replays showed a heavy warm-up collision with teammate Lehi Hopoate, which Tonga staff say they did not see until after the match.
- Katoa later sustained two in-game head knocks, passed an initial HIA, then became ill after the second and required surgery for a brain bleed following seizure activity.
- New Zealand coach Stacey Jones and players including Shaun Johnson and Jazz Tevaga called for mandated scrutiny of pre-game routines, noting current rules cover training and matches but not warm-ups.