Wigan winger Dom Manfredi has been ruled out for the season with another devastating knee injury, just nine games since ending a lay-off of more than two years.
The 25-year-old hero of the Warriors' 2018 Grand Final win over Warrington, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in last Friday's 38-28 Super League defeat at Castleford and will need major surgery.
Wigan's executive director Kris Radlinski said: "Dom visited a specialist yesterday who confirmed our worst fears and the injury that he sustained at Castleford Tigers would end his season.
"This is a devastating blow for Dom and the team.
"Dom only returned from surgery on his other knee towards the end of last year and had the fairytale ending at Old Trafford.
"Now he faces the same journey of rehabilitation. Our focus is on helping him through this difficult time."
In a cruel coincidence, Manfredi suffered the latest setback at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle, where he suffered his initial injury in August 2016.
After undergoing a knee reconstruction, Manfredi suffered a recurrence during his comeback in a reserve game a year later and was forced to spend another 12 months on the sidelines.
During that time, Manfredi admitted he was close to hanging up his boots, and even began training as a HGV driver.
But he persevered and made a return to Shaun Wane's side during the Super-8s last September and went on to score two tries in Wigan's Old Trafford triumph.
Weeks later, Wigan rewarded him with a new three-year deal which runs until the end of 2021.
He missed the start of this season with a slight knee problem but soon settled back into the side and had been in good form, earning a place in the England Knights performance squad.