The Manly Sea Eagles could be dealt a major setback with reports suggesting experienced hooker Lachlan Croker may be forced to retire due to ongoing knee and concussion issues.
Croker has battled persistent injuries for more than 18 months, and there are growing fears that he has played his final NRL game.
According to reports, the Sea Eagles are currently in discussions with the NRL about the possibility of a medical retirement and a salary cap exemption to help manage the potential loss.
“It’s a real pity because Lachlan is a fine player and an even better person,” a Sea Eagles insider told Wide World of Sports.
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“He’s had a couple of surgeries on the knee and then suffered a serious concussion in training midway through the year.
The medical retirement is a complicated process that we are just exploring with the NRL.”
Croker, who has one year remaining on his contract with Manly, debuted in the NRL with the Canberra Raiders back in 2016 and has since played 125 first-grade games.
However, injuries restricted him to just four appearances during the 2024 season.
The potential retirement would leave a significant gap in Manly’s spine, especially after the club recently released Gordon Chan Kum Tong, who was seen as a promising long-term option at hooker.
That move now makes Jake Simpkin the likely starting hooker for the 2025 NRL season.