Hull FC forward Joe Westerman stunned television viewers by replacing his dislocated kneecap by slapping it back into place on the field - and playing on.
TV replays caught the former Castleford back rower pulling off the remarkable feat of bravery in the closing stages of his side’s 18-10 derby defeat at Hull KR.
Without any substitutes left to use, Westerman then regained his feet and ran to the next scrum before seeing out the match.
After the game his coach Lee Radford revealed that it has been a common occurrence for the 29-year-old.
Radford said: “He does that every fortnight.
“It has genuinely come out on numerous occasions - he needs some ligaments in there somewhere.
“It’s a gladiator sport and we had no interchanges left so he stayed out there.”
Radford added with tongue in cheek: “We conceded the last try though so I told him he should have come off.”
Wigan winger Joe Burgess was among several Super League players to tweet about the incident, writing: “The hardest thing I’ve ever seen”.
Matt Parcell’s late try on debut for Rovers sealed a win that takes them off the foot of Super League and moves Leeds Rhinos - who allowed him to leave this week - to the bottom.
