Grand Final match winner Dom Manfredi was learning how to drive HGVs in case his two-year recovery from injury forced him out of rugby league.
The two-try winger was playing only his fifth game since battling back from two ruptured cruciate ligaments that threatened his career.
As recently as six weeks ago club officials worried that the 25-year-old might never recapture the form that saw him named in the 2016 Dream Team and an England training squad.
But Manfredi scored a try in each half – despite having 10 stitches in an horrific eyelid cut midway through the second period – to help Wigan send departing coach Shaun Wane out in the perfect manner.
Manfredi said: “I started doing HGV driving, and I was planning on doing my test.
“But as I was getting fitter I just pushed that back, although I’m going to get back into that anyway, for the future.
“I had some dark times during those two years.
“I just sat down and said to myself ‘this is my last chance, I’ll give it everything now, and if it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough, at least I’ve tried’.”
Warriors director of performance Mark Bitcon – who is also among those heading for new pastures, with Manchester City – compared Manfredi’s comeback to climbing Everest.
Bitcon said: “From a month ago thinking if this doesn’t work he might not play again, to scoring a winning try in a Grand Final is an unbelievable story, and that’s testament to the man.
“He’s been dedicated these last two years when others might have walked away and left the sport alone.”
Wigan fell behind early to a try from former Warrior Josh Charnley, but well-worked responses to Manfredi and Tom Davies gave them a lead that their resolute defence rarely looked like relinquishing.
Victory was still not confirmed until the 77th minute though, when Manfredi finished his second, ensuring that Wane and players Sam Tomkins, John Bateman and Ryan Sutton all leave as title winners.
The esteem in which Wane has been held by his squad was illustrated by a video of him crowd surfing his players in the post-match celebrations, ahead of his new consultancy role with Scotland RU.
He was also applauded out of an emotional post-match press conference, and Manfredi added: “I owe a lot to Waney – I don’t think I’d be anywhere near where I am without him.
“He’s a massive character.
“I’d probably be digging holes on a building site if it wasn’t for him, so yeah, I’m gutted he’s leaving.
“But I’m sure he’ll kill it wherever he goes.”
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