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Joel Thompson won't play in the NRL again after an ankle injury cut his season short at Manly before moving to England.

Manly veteran Joel Thompson has played his last NRL game with the second-rower to undergo ankle surgery before moving to England next year.

Thompson confirmed on Tuesday night his 234-game NRL career was over after stints at Canberra, St George Illawarra and the Sea Eagles.

The 32-year-old has battled injuries throughout this year - including a gruesome cut to the tongue last month - before finally succumbing to an ankle injury.

"Unfortunately I played my last NRL game on Sunday. It hurts to finish in the NRL that way but I pushed on for as long as I could," Thompson tweeted.

"I have especially loved the last three years at a club I grew up supporting.

"I idolised (Steve) Menzies and am very proud to have have played in the jersey number I wore as a young fella."

Thompson's exit for St Helens will not only leave a hole in Manly's second row but also in the NRL.

He is one of the game's leaders in the indigenous space, a vocal director on the players' union board and a founder of the Mindset Project which works in the mental health space.

"He's such a great leader, he really leads by example," Manly star Jake Trbojevic said.

"Young guys really learn off him. Such a great player who puts his whole heart out there every week.

"He will admit he is probably not the most talented player, but just out of toughness and he just rips in every week."

Meanwhile Trbojevic said his brother Tom still intended on playing in the NRL this year, as he recovers from a hamstring injury and with Manly out of finals contention.

He was also certain the club would not stand in the star fullback's way of playing State of Origin for NSW, as he battles the persistent hamstring issue.

"If he was selected in the Blues he would definitely be able to play," Jake said.

"Tom wants to be in the Blues side, he has been there for the past couple of years and played really well.

"We'll definitely get him back (for Manly) for at least a couple of games."