"Heads must roll": Furious backlash amid Katoa retirement fears

The fallout from Eliesa Katoa's headknocks suffered in Tonga's match against New Zealand have continue with former stars calling on those responsible to lose their jobs.

Katoa took to the field for Tonga’s match against New Zealand despite a massive knock to the head from teammate Lehi Hopoate during the warm up. The blow should have been enough to rule him out of the game but according to reports, he was not given an HIA.

Just nine minutes into the clash, after sustaining another knock to the head and a split eye, he required an HIA check, which he passed.

Then again after 51 minutes a third head knock ended his game after he went low to tackle Naufahu Whyte.

Then came the terrifying aftereffects with vision showing Katoa required an oxygen mask and was loaded onto a medicab surrounded by teammates and staff.

He was taken to hospital with seizure symptoms and has undergone surgery.

Warriors legend Shaun Johnson was staggered that Katoa was given the green light to play despite the pre-game incident.

“I feel a bit angry about the situation,” he said on the Play on Sport Show.

“I don’t get how it can even get to that point, but from a player’s view, we just hope that Eli’s all good. Anyone that’s been in that situation or has seen teammates in that situation, it’s the worst thing to see.

“I’m just going to say it – there is going to be fallout over this. There are going to be some heads that are rolled because I do not know how Eli Katoa was allowed to take the field.

“In warm-up, he has a shoulder to the head…loose body to the ground. All I thought straight away when I saw that was if that happened in a game or if that happened at training during the week, he’s done and they’d probably go category one on it so he wouldn’t even sit an HIA and would be done.”

SEN's Joel Caine and Bryan Fletcher echoed Johnson's statements and are concerned that Katoa could be forced into early retirement.

“Someone’s got to answer to this,” Fletcher said on SEN 1170.

“I think there’s got to be another level (of concussion protocol). You can’t tell if you’ve got bleeding on the brain unless you get a scan.

“I just feel for poor Eli. Hopefully he recovers. I don’t want to say it, but imagine if the second or third knock now (means) he has to retire. It’s hectic.

“Fingers crossed Eli comes through this. To get bleeding on the brain, I haven’t heard that apart from Te Maire Martin.”

"It's very, very scary," Caine replied.

Jarome Luai and Junior Paulo have issued heartfelt pleas for medical professionals to do more to ensure the game never sees a repeat of what happened to Eliesa Katoa.

“It definitely does (confront you) as a player. Prayers go out to Eli and his family through this tough period,” Paulo told News Corp.

“We as footy players will probably never say no to turning up for your country and getting out there and playing.

“But whoever this falls down to, there are protocols around that and should be followed – and they probably were followed. In terms of putting your health before your job, that’s probably the main outcome that we really want to take out of it.

“This is not to put pressure on anyone who is in that role to make a call, but I think that’s what probably their role is to do to look after the health and safety of the player first.

“Most rugby league players aren’t going to say no (when asked if they don’t want to play) or turn down the opportunity to represent your country or play in the NRL in general.

“This is our passion and why we do it so it’s a hard one to stand on. But like I said, there are protocols in place for why you probably shouldn’t be allowed to return to the field, and that’s for the health concerns.”

Teammate Jarome Luai backed his Samoan teammate.

“I wasn’t there and I’m not sure what kind of state he was in during the match, but it’s heart-breaking to hear and it’s a plea to look after our players and to ultimately look after yourself,” he said.

The decision to allow Katoa on the field was ruled “indefensible” by Andrew Voss who was calling the match.

“Oh my goodness,” Andrew Voss said on SEN 1170. “Sickening. Unbelievable situation. I think it’s indefensible personally.

“If I’m Melbourne, I’m saying I want a full detailed description of how that played out.

“Looking at that incident before the game, that’s category 1 to my untrained doctor eye.

“Melbourne wouldn’t send him back on after that.”

Katoa released a short messages to his fans via Instagram on Monday morning along with a picture of his left arm with cannulas.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," he wrote.

"Appreciate everyone for checking in, sorry if I haven't got back to you guys but really appreciative of all the love and messages."