Tonga coach Kristian Woolf. Photo: Ian Hitchcock
Eliesa Katoa could be released from hospital as early as this week, Australian media is reporting.
The Tongan rugby league star was admitted to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery following a series of sickening head clashes during the Pacific Champions match against the Kiwis earlier this month.
The first was a head knock with a team mate during the pre-game warm up, followed by two more high hits during the game.
He had an HIA after the first on-field knock, but left the field after the second - his condition worsening as he watched from the bench.
TV images showed Katoa being fitted with an oxygen mask and put on a stretcher.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has visited Katoa every day since the incident and is vowing not to return home to Australia until he is confident Katoa will make a full recovery, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
Citing a Tonga source not authorised to speak on behalf of Woolf, the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting Woolf did not feel comfortable leaving the country while there were concerns about his player's health, and wanted to be there to support Katoa's family.
Eli Katoa in action against the Kiwis Photo: www.photosport.nz
Woolf, also head coach for the Dolphins, has been coaching the Tonga team for more than a decade.
At the time of the incidents, Woolf defended team doctors in not ordering him from the field sooner, saying "everything was done by the book".
"We've got two very experienced doctors there. They've done their usual HIA. He's passed all that and passed all that well," Woolf said, according to Australian media.
"My job is not to question doctors. They were both comfortable with that and comfortable with him coming back onto the field.
"So I don't think there's anything to worry about there in terms of the process."
Both the NRL and the NRL Players Association were investigating the circumstances that led to Katoa being allowed to continue to play.
The NRL investigation is complete, but findings will not be released until the league has a better picture of Katoa's recovery, according to the Australia Associated Press.
Katoa has not been well enough to be interviewed for the investigation, Yahoo News reported.
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