The Mole: 'Real fears' Manly hooker Lachlan Croker could be set for medical retirement

Experienced Manly hooker Lachlan Croker may have to retire in a major blow to the Sea Eagles.

Still only 28, Croker has been struggling to overcome nagging knee and concussion issues for more than 18 months and there are real fears he has played his last game.

The concerns are so grave that the Sea Eagles are talking to the NRL about the possibility of a medical retirement and salary cap dispensation.

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"It's a real pity because Lachlan is a fine player and an even better person," a Sea Eagles insider told Wide World of Sports.

"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."

The experienced hooker still has one year to run on his Manly deal.

Croker debuted with Canberra in 2016 and has played 125 NRL games - but managed just four games this season.

Manly released promising hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong recently, leaving Jake Simpkin as the likely choice as starting hooker for next season.