By Paul Fletcher

When asked about money I said that was not why I was coming back Kris Radlinski

Kris Radlinski was warming up for what turned out to be his final game as a rugby league player at Headingley on Friday, 11 August.

He was jumping on the spot when he heard someone shout: "I'm surprised you can get off the ground with all that money in your pocket!"

Radlinski shook his head and got on with his job while Wigan went about recording a shock 20-18 win over Leeds to ease their season-long relegation worries.

A television camera positioned inside the Wigan dressing room after the match showed Radlinski banging a broom on the floor, leading the victory sing-song.

He looked incredibly happy.

To have played his part in Wigan's resurgence and be immersed once more in the after-match banter seemed to vindicate his decision to come out of retirement in June.

Radlinski risked his reputation and long-term health to help his beloved home-town club avoid relegation.

And he did so without getting paid.

A persistent knee injury had originally forced Radlinski to bow out of the game in March after 10 years at the top.

Radlinski was Wigan skipper, a Great Britain international and generally regarded as the best full-back of the Super League era.

Contemplating retirement was not easy, but neither was the prospect of limping on an arthritic knee for the rest of his life.

Radlinski was happy with his decision and moved on with his life.

"I was just getting on with things," he told BBC Sport. "I took a holiday and did things I always wanted to do. I guess I was leading a retired life."

But all was not well with the Warriors.

Arguably the most famous club in the game was bottom of Super League and looking for a coach after the dismissal of Ian Millward.

Radlinski had commentated on some Wigan games and "was hurting like everybody else in Wigan".

The difference was that he could do something about it.

Then he received a phone call at home from Brian Noble.

The Great Britain and Bradford Bulls was on the verge of taking over at Wigan and wanted to know how Radlinski was.

More importantly, Noble wanted to know if he would consider playing again.

I wasn't as fit or strong as before but my two biggest muscles still worked - my heart and my head Kris Radlinski

"Nobby (Noble) said I had a long time to be retired and that he was throwing a challenge at me," explained Radlinski.

"He said that if I said 'no' he would not lose any respect for me but that my help would mean a lot."

Noble was not the only person who wanted to see Radlinski in a Wigan shirt again.

So did club chairman Maurice Lindsay.

"Maurice said he was not asking me as a businessman or a professional but as a friend to come back and give us what you've got," said Radlinski.

However, the 30-year-old Wiganer was not convinced it was the right move and contacted his old team-mates to find out how they felt about him returning.

He got the thumbs-up but was under no illusions about the task that faced him, especially after his suspect knee swelled up two days after his first training session.

"I had too much respect for the game to think that I could come back and be the player that I was," said Radlinski.

"I was nowhere near as fit as I should be and I'm nowhere near the player I should be. I guess it was just case of helping out."

His first comeback game was against Catalans, but not at full-back.

Instead, he played at right centre, a position where a player is less isolated, less exposed.

Just as well, given Stacey Jones was in the opposing side.

With Jones well noted for his ability to split defences open with a well-placed kick or pass, Radlinski felt he would have been "destroyed" that day had he played his usual role.

Nevertheless, he still felt he had a lot to offer the Wigan cause.

"I'm not as fit or as strong as I was but my two biggest muscles are still working - my brain and my heart," he said.

Despite his willingness, it was only a matter of time before Radlinski's knee started giving him problems again.

Eventually, he felt he had given all he could and decided to call time on his career for a second time.

But at least Wigan were in a much healthier state.

Following his return, the Warriors recorded eight wins from nine games, with Radlinski playing in six of them.

The drop is still a possibility with just three games left, but they now have a fighting chance of staying up.

And Radlinski can take a lot of personal pride in the role he played in that dramatic revival.