‘Seasick for six weeks’: Croker’s concussion battle ends in medical retirement

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Debilitating post-concussion symptoms that left Manly hooker Lachlan Croker feeling sea sick for six weeks at a time have forced him into rugby league retirement at the age of just 28.

The Sea Eagles confirmed Croker’s medical retirement on Monday, freeing up further salary cap space for the club alongside a similar ruling on prop Josh Aloiai, whose estimated $500,000-a-year deal for 2026 and 2027 was cut short by an ongoing shoulder injury.

Recently re-signed No.9 Jake Simpkin (extended until the end of 2028) shapes as Anthony Seibold’s first-choice hooker next season, with Zach Dockar-Clay joining the club from the Roosters as back-up.

Manly have high hopes that Ashton Large – the younger brother of rising playmaker Onitoni – can emerge as a long-term hooking option as well.

Croker retires with a year remaining on his contract. He made just four appearances in 2025 after a seemingly innocuous head knock at training in June triggered a repeat of symptoms that floored him a year earlier.

A clash with his former Raiders teammate Josh Papalii in May 2024 initially sidelined Croker for three months as he battled the aftereffects.

Lachlan Croker was left worse for wear after a collision with Canberra’s Josh Papalii in 2024.

“Four or five days after it [the head clash in 2024], I couldn’t get out of my room,” Croker said. “I couldn’t keep my eyes open – the light would kill me. Then two or three weeks after that it progressed into dizziness.

“Basically I felt seasick 24/7. That lasted six-ish weeks, and then I felt normal [when] doing nothing. But as I started training the symptoms would come on again.

“So it was a very long time. You forget what normal is like when you’ve been like that for so long.

“When it happened again this year, three or four weeks into that I said, ‘This is not how I want to live’. It ended up being the smart decision and the right decision for myself, my family and the club.”

Croker has now “moved past the tears and the sad side of things” and already taken up a coaching role with Manly’s SG Ball side alongside former teammates Brad Parker, Jack and Cooper Johns. He played all bar one of his 125 NRL games for the Sea Eagles after making his debut for Canberra in 2016.

The Sea Eagles tried to sign Tallyn da Silva last year when he left Wests Tigers and also expressed interest in new Cowboys hooker Reed Mahoney, but at this stage will prioritise reinforcing their middle forwards and back row rather than looking for a No.9.

Souths prop Davvy Moale will join the club in 2027 on a three-year deal, but a long-touted early arrival is yet to be finalised as Manly seek to have the Rabbitohs pay a portion of his 2026 wage.

Manly remain open to an early release for veteran forward Nathan Brown after talks about a proposed swap deal with Wests Tigers for Jack Bird stalled.

Veteran prop Matt Lodge will also move on next season, with the 30-year-old linked to North Queensland after being offered a one-year extension by Manly.

Halfback Jamal Fogarty (Canberra), lock Kobe Hetherington (Broncos) and winger Blake Wilson (Bulldogs) are the notable arrivals in an ongoing roster overhaul following Daly Cherry-Evans’ exit.