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Watch emotional scenes as Jai Arrow plays final NRL game after MND-enforced retirement - Serious About Rugby League

Serious About Rugby League · Sam Cook · 2026-09-04T12:08:30+00:00 · nguồn gốc

There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Jai Arrow led South Sydney Rabbitohs out in their final game of the regular season as the 31-year-old, who has been medically retired due to Motor Neurone Disease, played his final NRL game. In doing so, Arrow brought up his 100th appearance for the Bunnies with the NRL allowing the forward to take to the field last week against his former club Gold Coast and today against the Rabbitohs’ rivals Sydney Roosters. Medically retired from the NRL earlier in the year after a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease, the same condition that Super League and Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow bravely fought before his passing, Jai Arrow took to the field for one last time at an emotion-filled Allianz Stadium. Arrow took to the field last week at Robina Stadium, the home of his former club, but doing so at the Bunnies’ home ground in front of a guard of honour for his 100th club appearance ensured an even more emotional moment. A prop by trade, Arrow was listed on the teamsheet in the halves so that when he left the field, he was replaced by teammate and best mate Cody Walker as head coach Wayne Bennett was the man to stand there with the interchange card, in yet another moving moment. Speaking to Fox Sports at half time, Jai Arrow said: “It was very surreal. I didn’t know that they were going to be there (former teammates in a guard of honour) so for me, it was a great moment. “I just want to say thank you to everyone and I love you all.” RIP Sir Billy, under-the-radar challengers, Hull KR’s controversial call and more – Click here to watch this week’s episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show Jai Arrow takes the field for the 100th time as a Rabbitoh ❤💚 #NRL pic.twitter.com/7R7VqhJRoM — NRL (@NRL) September 4, 2026 Bunnies run riot to celebrate 100th appearance for Jai Arrow As for the game, Souths ensured they capped off a special night with a special performance as they won 50-20 to move up to sixth on the NRL ladder. The Bunnies, who had already secured their spot in the play-offs, got off to a fast start against the Roosters with David Fifita, Jayden Sullivan and Alex Johnston all scoring inside the opening 15 minutes. Scores were then exchanged to give the Rabbitohs a half-time lead of 20-4 before a high-scoring second half that again saw Souths blitz their rivals with Arrow’s best mate Cody Walker scoring in the 56th minute before three more Souths tries were scored in the following 15 minutes. Despite it being a night of celebration for Jai Arrow, the rivalry between the two sides wasn’t totally put on the back burner as Lachlan Hubner and De La Salle Va’a got it on following Latrell Mitchell’s 71st minute try. One Roosters player clearly didn’t think Mitchell had grounded the ball so began to run it back leading to a heavy shot from Hubner that Va’a clearly disagreed with as he piled in to create the melee. The Rabbitohs weren’t done there though as they sought the 50-point mark and it was former Rooster Brandon Smith who darted over from dummy half to bring up the half century on the night that Jai Arrow recorded his 100th club appearance. Standing with Jai ❤ #NRL pic.twitter.com/sDQ3eZojBd — NRL (@NRL) September 4, 2026