“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.
Loading
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.