LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Manly Sea Eagles hooker Lachlan Croker has announced his decision to medically retire from playing and will transition directly into a coaching role with the club.
The 28-year-old has faced significant challenges over the past two seasons, experiencing multiple concussions that severely limited his game time, particularly in 2025. He only appeared in four matches that year, with the last game played in Round 15 against the Gold Coast Titans, following another recovery from a concussion.
The Sea Eagles have officially stated that Croker will take charge of the club's SG Ball Cup team as he shifts into his new coaching position.
Croker shared that he has been struggling with symptoms from his most recent concussion and recognized it was time for him to step away from playing. "My body is in good shape, but my head is telling me it's time," he explained. He added, "I've had one too many head knocks, and the last one was the last straw. As hard as I tried to get back playing, I just couldn't as the symptoms persisted."