'Worst nightmare': How Croker overcame concussion struggle

Lachlan Croker spent nearly three months waking up every day hoping it would be the day. 

The day his post-concussions symptoms, and those that came with an associated neck injury, had eased.

For weeks, the day did not come, frustration and anxiety growing with each day. Until eventually it did.

From that point in mid-July, the Manly hooker was given permission to commence his return to the field and now, a few weeks later, Croker is preparing for his first NRL match since Round 9 when the Sea Eagles travel to Canberra to face the Raiders on Saturday. 

The return may have come much later than initially hoped, but Croker is determined to put the struggles in the rear-view mirror. 

"There was always a chance I woke up the next day and felt fine," Croker told NRL.com. "That was the worst thing for me. I went looking for that. Every week I felt like I was touch and go about playing. 

"When I realised this might take longer, I stopped worrying about it a little bit and thought I'd get there when I'd get there. 

"It's come to a time now where I've felt the same for the last few weeks and it's time to take the next steps and see where that leads. I'm in a good space mentally and ready to get back to footy."

Croker's nightmare ordeal started with a concussion suffered in Manly's loss to Canberra in early May. 

Whereas symptoms had quickly dissipated from previous head knocks, this time they lingered for weeks. 

The combined effects of the concussion and an associated neck injury left Croker in constant pain and unsure when it would ease. 

It was physically challenging, but the mental struggle was even greater. The uncertainty made it impossible for the 27-year-old to map out a clear timetable for his return. With no light at the end of the tunnel, it became increasingly difficult to remain positive. 

"I thought I would play the week after, then I thought I'd play the week after that," he said. "In hindsight I wish I knew there was a possibility of it taking this long. 

"I've spoken to people and they said it can take months, but when it's you in that situation you don't understand it until you've gone through it. If I knew back then what I know now, it would've helped me because I was stressing about getting back playing and that wasn't helping anyone."

Croker eventually returned to the field in NSW Cup two weeks ago, getting through 27 minutes unscathed. 

Now, the hooker and Manly staff feel he's ready for the final step in his comeback. A return to the NRL.

The news prompted an outpouring of emotions from Croker and his teammates when it was delivered to the side on Monday morning, with the squad erupting into cheers at the team meeting. 

Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans said Croker's injury served as a reminder to cherish every match and backed the hooker to make the most of his second chance this season. 

"This would've been tricker than his ACL [tears]," Cherry-Evans said. "I don't want to speak for him, but when you don't have a timeline, that's our worst nightmare in rugby league.

"We're so regimented, we know when we're going to play, when our weight sessions are, when our field sessions are, so for him to have no idea about what the future looked like would've been pretty scary. 

"It's great to see him work through everything and come out the other side. We'll be looking after him this weekend and really happy to have him out there."