What would make it even more unique would be Hopoate to pick up a suspension. Probably reckless, but unfortunate too and it’s the staff that are guilty of letting him play. Hopoate had a poor game and I would imagine he was feeling pretty rubbish about what occurred
241
🇳🇿
🇹🇴
Second Row,
Active
Debut: 2020-03-14
-
Age
193
Height (cm)
110
Weight (kg)
241
🇳🇿
🇹🇴
Second Row,
Active
Debut: 2020-03-14
-
Age
193
Height (cm)
110
Weight (kg)
Player Eliesa Katoa
- Thread starter Inruin
- Start date
- Full Name
- Eliesa Katoa
- Date of Birth
- Jan 3, 2000
- Birth Location
- Hihifo, Niuatoputapu, Tonga
- Nationality
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇹🇴 Tonga
- Height (cm)
- 193 cm
- Weight (kg)
- 110 kg
- Position/s
- Second Row
- Warrior #
- 241
- NRL Debut Date
- Mar 14, 2020
- NRL Debut Details
- 2020, Round 1, New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights
- Warriors Debut Date
- Mar 14, 2020
- Warriors Debut Details
- 2020, Round 1, Newcastle Knights
- Warriors Years Active
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- College/s
- Tamaki College
- Signed To
- Melbourne Storm
- Current Club
- Melbourne Storm
- Status
- Active
- Rugby League Project
- https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/eliesa-katoa/summary.html
NZWarriors.com
Yeah mate. You would think it would be in the forefront of his mind especially after he copped the other whacks
If it wasn't played up on the big screen at the game then it's fair to say it wasn't seen. The problem though is in that tiny 1 second clip of him prone on the ground it was enough to show a definite serious knock. That he needed clearance to play means that when the second head knock happened it was absurd he was allowed to get back on the field again.
‘I’m angry’: Kiwis legend calls for axings as NRL investigate scary Katoa ‘seizure’ incident
‘I’m angry’: Kiwis legend calls for axings as NRL investigate scary Katoa ‘seizure’ incidentwww.foxsports.com.au
SJ pretty candid in this and sees it that heads should roll. Apparently Tongan staff are running with they didn’t see the warm up knock, but he has staff with him when he’s down on the ground? I agree with him that there’s going to be fallout over this
NZWarriors.com
The NRL don’t give a shit about player safety and nor do the coaches.
Kikau is another classic example where it looked like he cracked an eye socket at the start of the game and miraculously came back on with one big shiner 15mins later. He was bloody lucky he never got a second knock during the game.
Kikau is another classic example where it looked like he cracked an eye socket at the start of the game and miraculously came back on with one big shiner 15mins later. He was bloody lucky he never got a second knock during the game.
People like SJ and those on the sidelines probably feel a bit conflicted that they didn’t take the footage or point out to the Tongan staff of what had occurred now if they didn’t see it and that’s why he was cleared to play? Can only take a positive that someone hasn’t lost their lives, but their career could very much be a factor and his length of time out? This is where nrl are intertwined because storm pays his salary and was he upgraded or in line to be? Because he’s been the form second row for a couple of years running now. Lots of possibilities if how there could be fallout and between who? First and foremost I’m sure is getting Katoa sound and stable though but then it likely turns to a blame game
I don’t buy Tongas stance that they didn’t see it/weren’t aware of it- there’s clearly a trainer right there in the footage. It stinks of staff covering their arses when they clearly messed up badly
NZWarriors.com
if Tonga (and the Kiwis) are broke, do they have the medical staff and same level of experts behind the scenes like NRL teams do?
Do the countries (seperate to the players) get financed by the NRL to fun a professional tournament?
Do the countries (seperate to the players) get financed by the NRL to fun a professional tournament?
Good question. With the Pacific Championship being an NRL sanctioned event they would surely get the properly trained medical staff.
But the trainers that apparently were on the field and saw it happen? It appears they didn’t alert the medical staff???
NZWarriors.com
The Tongan team can't even get their stories straight.
www.stuff.co.nz
Tonga officials say they would have prevented Eli Katoa from playing in Sunday’s Pacific Championships match against New Zealand had they seen the damning TV footage of him being floored in a heavy collision during the warm-up.
TV commentators immediately questioned whether Katoa would be fit to play against the Kiwis, and viewers were shown replays of the sickening impact early in the game. However, the first time the Tongans were made aware of the vision was after full-time.
Then it says this which completely contradicts that they were only aware of it until after full-time....
Two Tongan medical staff assessed Katoa after the collision in the warm-up, while also considering feedback from team-mates and Katoa himself. Katoa was not given a head impact assessment.
Heads need to roll for this shit.
Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz
Tonga officials say they would have prevented Eli Katoa from playing in Sunday’s Pacific Championships match against New Zealand had they seen the damning TV footage of him being floored in a heavy collision during the warm-up.
TV commentators immediately questioned whether Katoa would be fit to play against the Kiwis, and viewers were shown replays of the sickening impact early in the game. However, the first time the Tongans were made aware of the vision was after full-time.
Then it says this which completely contradicts that they were only aware of it until after full-time....
Two Tongan medical staff assessed Katoa after the collision in the warm-up, while also considering feedback from team-mates and Katoa himself. Katoa was not given a head impact assessment.
Heads need to roll for this shit.
I saw it on TV before the game even started. Tonga turned a blind eye IMO. This is a terrible look for the game, whoever is involved needs to be made accountable.
I think the NRL needs to assess HIA protocols. It's too hard to trigger the 18th man, it shouldn't be a punishment to have a guy ruled out via an HIA. Just encourages teams to keep guys on the park.
I hope Katoa makes and full and quick recovery.
I think the NRL needs to assess HIA protocols. It's too hard to trigger the 18th man, it shouldn't be a punishment to have a guy ruled out via an HIA. Just encourages teams to keep guys on the park.
I hope Katoa makes and full and quick recovery.
NZWarriors.com
I think it is possible they didn't see the flush impact at the time, but the footage shows for 1 second they were there when he was on the ground and looked groggy as. To not be given the head impact assessment is unbelievable.The Tongan team can't even get their stories straight.
Stuff
Tonga officials say they would have prevented Eli Katoa from playing in Sunday’s Pacific Championships match against New Zealand had they seen the damning TV footage of him being floored in a heavy collision during the warm-up.
TV commentators immediately questioned whether Katoa would be fit to play against the Kiwis, and viewers were shown replays of the sickening impact early in the game. However, the first time the Tongans were made aware of the vision was after full-time.
Then it says this which completely contradicts that they were only aware of it until after full-time....
Two Tongan medical staff assessed Katoa after the collision in the warm-up, while also considering feedback from team-mates and Katoa himself. Katoa was not given a head impact assessment.
Heads need to roll for this shit.
They saw it alright. His arms were as stiff as a board. Poor kid.
NZWarriors.com
Slightly controversial opinion here, but Katoa is partly responsible here
If you take a heavy hit to the head and don't tell someone you feel out of sorts, it makes the medical and coaching staff's jobs harder to do
Players are good about speaking up when they tweak their hammies. They also have a responsibility to ensure staff know what's going on upstairs
Obviously the medical and training staff have the main responsibility, and collectively here they've looked the other way - probably because he's one of Tonga's best players. But players too have an obligation here, especially when it isn't physically obvious
If you take a heavy hit to the head and don't tell someone you feel out of sorts, it makes the medical and coaching staff's jobs harder to do
Players are good about speaking up when they tweak their hammies. They also have a responsibility to ensure staff know what's going on upstairs
Obviously the medical and training staff have the main responsibility, and collectively here they've looked the other way - probably because he's one of Tonga's best players. But players too have an obligation here, especially when it isn't physically obvious
I agree that Katoa shouldn't just say 'im 100% coach put me in' but literally everyone who saw that incident before that game winced and thought he wouldn't have been playing.
Tonga has changed their story about what happened several times, to me that indicates they know they've fucked up. Duty of care has someone in that Tongan team stepping up and saying no way, you're not playing, which sounds like it never happened
No way this is on Eli. The medical staff let him down here.
NZWarriors.com
The systems are in place to protect the player and the limited the liability of the organisation long term.
Players need to be protected from themselves.
The trainer was literally right there during the warm up - he didnt need Katoa to tell him what was going on upstairs, he was KO'd.
Exactly, medical professionals must have the utmost integrity for the well-being of those under their care.
Anything less and we may as well all be doctors..