The Manly Sea Eagles look set to lose a mainstay in their forward pack, with reports of a medical retirement looming.
Club enforcer Josh Aloiai is looking at a premature retirement due to an ongoing shoulder injury that has plagued him.
Aloiai has been restricted to just five matches in 2025, barely making it through his comeback match before succumbing to the injury once again.
He only lasted 21 minutes in his first game back from injury against the Brisbane Broncos in Round 13, before ultimately making his way back to the sheds early.
The 29-year-old is owed around $1 million over the next two years of his contract, which looks set to go to waste if he is gonna sit on the sidelines for the Sea Eagles.
With stars like Tom Trbojevic, Haumole Olakau'atu and Jamal Fogarty all taking up a large chunk of the club's funds, having Aloiai's contract off the books will boost the Sea Eagles tremendously.
The club is now readying the paperwork to submit to the NRL, with a request to medically retire Aloiai.
He has played 164 matches at the Sea Eagles and the Wests Tigers.
After two shoulder dislocations in Round 21, the NRL should not stand in his way.
It’s a shame to have him go, but as you say, if his body is no longer reliable then it’s in everyone’s interest to let him bow out.