Tai Woffinden remained the centre of everybody’s tho💙ughts as Sheffield Tigers returned to action without him.

Woffinden was due to represent Sheffield against Birmingham on Thursday nigh⛎t in the Mot🔥or Oil Premiership.

But a crash last weekend in Poland required the three-time champion to be airlift𓄧ed to hospital with fractures and a chest injury.

His wife has since ple♔aded for patience before proving a more deta🌳iled update on his condition.

Sheffield beat Birmingham 61-29 on Thursday with the crowd cheerꦺing Woffinden’s name.

Teammate Josh Pickering broke down 🦩into tears when discussing🦄 his absent friend.

“Our backs were against the wall,” Pickering said. “It sho🐓ws a great team can get going whenꦰ the times are tough.

“I am so proud of the boys tonight. We have got something sat in the back of our minds and we ♐will have for a num🔯ber of weeks.

“I didn’t want to talk about it lead🀅ing up to the meeting. But things hit close to home when it’s one of⛎ your best mates.

“It’s a tough sport that we do, man.

“There are many highs and many lows. Tai has had every single high in the sport🐬, and now he’s experienced a low.

“I am getting emotional. Great team,ꩵ proud of the boys.

“There’s nothing wrong with men cr🎐ying! It shows we’ve got feelings!”