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MANLY STAR FACING MEDICAL RETIREMENT

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Manly’s veteran hooker Lachlan Croker is reportedly facing medical retirement in a major blow to their 2026 premiership hopes and long-term No.9 plan.

Channel 9’s The Mole reported Croker may be forced to retire after battling a knee injury and concussion issues over the past couple of seasons.

Manly are in talks with the NRL about the possibility of a medical retirement for Croker and salary cap dispensation to help the club move forward in search of another hooker.

Croker played just four games last season and only 20 over the last two years after a consistent stream of injury setbacks.

“It’s a real pity because Lachlan is a fine player and an even better person,” a Sea Eagles insider told Channel 9.

“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 has one year remaining on his deal at Manly in 2026 and has played 126 games for the Raiders and Sea Eagles since his debut in 2016, scoring 20 tries.

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Lachlan Croker may be forced to medically retire.Source: Getty Images

Manly have Jake Simpkin on their books for next season, but let Gordon Chan Kum Tong leave the club, so their long-term plan at hooker looks uncertain.

The Sea Eagles have struggled to replace Api Koroisau since he rejoined the Panthers in 2019 before going on to the Tigers.

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Croker has been a solid first grader with excellent defence and slick service, but his lack of a running game has hurt the Manly attack at times.

The Sea Eagles will likely go to market on November 1 if Croker is medically retired to create some depth at dummyhalf.

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