Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards needed six painkilling injections to take his place in last night's historic grand final win over North Queensland.

Richards, who feared he had suffered a second fracture in his right ankle in as many years after being assisted from the field in the previous weekend's defeat of St George Illawarra, defied medical opinion to play a starring role in the 30-16 win over the Cowboys.

But the Wigan-bound flier admitted afterwards he had been in pain and Tigers officials revealed they had not been certain he would play until 60 minutes before kick-off when he had the first of five needles, then another at half-time.