Tui Kamikamica setback clouds Storm comeback hopes

Tui Kamikamica suffered a setback in training last week while recovering from a stroke, and the Storm now see him as a touch-and-go chance to play again this season. The 32-year-old had already been temporarily cleared to return, but that path has been interrupted again.

Storm rehab stalls again

Kamikamica underwent brain and heart surgery in March after suffering a stroke at his home in Melbourne. The stroke left him temporarily unable to speak or move, and the latest setback has pushed his comeback timeline back just as Melbourne had started to believe a return was possible.

He was off contract at the end of this season as he tried to work back into the frame. If he does not return, he would become the third Storm player ruled out for the remainder of 2026, joining Eli Katoa after brain surgery and Xavier Coates after an Achilles injury.

Eli Katoa’s hospital support

Kamikamica has already described how Katoa helped him through the hardest stretch of the recovery. “Eli was the first one to come to the hospital.”

He added, “He's been right here since day one in rehab together, we're pretty much riding the same road.” Kamikamica also said, “They're long days, and when you have someone, a great mate, you can talk to them, and especially he has his experience as well.”

“He pretty much knows how we feel, so for him to be there, like, giving me company and stuff, that's really good for me, with my health as well.”

Fiji return still in view

The setback does not erase every target in front of him. Later this year, Kamikamica may still be eyeing a return to lead Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup, while Eli Katoa hopes to be cleared for a comeback in 2027 after extensive medical checks and tests.

For Melbourne, the immediate issue is simpler: a player they had briefly cleared is back in limbo, and their season could end with three major absences instead of two.