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NRL star Lachlan Croker has made the shattering decision to quit the sport aged just 28, revealing that a horrible series of concussions left him unable to get out of bed or look at bright lights.
'The game that I have loved since I was three years old, that my family have loved forever, to have it essentially taken away from me is heartbreaking,' Croker said in a video released by his Manly team.
A veteran of 125 games for the Sea Eagles since his debut for the club in 2018, the hooker went on to detail the shocking effects of his many concussions, including the collision with Canberra's Josh Papalii that saw him sidelined for three months in the 2024 season.
'Four or five days after it, I couldn't get out of my room,' he said.
'I couldn't keep my eyes open. If I was in the light, it would kill me.
'Two or three weeks after that, it sort of progressed into a dizziness. Basically, I felt seasick 24/7.
Lachlan Croker (pictured with wife Abbey) has made the agonising decision to quit the NRL aged just 28, and with a year left to run on his contract with Manly
The Sea Eagles rake (pictured left with teammates Tom Trbojevic, centre, and Jake Trbojevic) has revealed the devastating effects a series of concussions had on him
Croker (pictured passing the ball against Souths in 2024) will now take over as head coach of Manly's SG Ball team
'That lasted about six-ish weeks and then I felt normal doing nothing, and then as I started training, the symptoms would come on again.
'You sort of forget what normal is like when you've been like that for so long, so there were so many thoughts running through my head.
'When it happened again this year, sort of three or four weeks into that I went, this is not how I want to live.'
Croker – who could only play four games in the 2025 season – got medical advice before making the tough choice, which he described as the right thing for his long-term health.
Manly have come through in Croker's hour of need, signing him on to coach the club's SG Ball team, which consists of under-19s players.
Asked about personal highlights from his time in the NRL, the Goulburn-born star remembered getting the opportunity to lead the Sea Eagles.
'Captaining the club twice is something that I'm extremely proud of. It's very hard to put that into words,' he said.
'And my 100th game. My family were down in Wollongong that weekend and looking over to them after the game and after a good win, and seeing 30 or 40 of them sitting in the stands is what it's all about.'
