Jai Arrow made a poignant 100th NRL appearance for the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium, marking his emotional farewell from the sport following a diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND). Arrow announced his retirement in May, and the NRL along with the Rabbitohs granted special dispensation for him to play two additional games, culminating in this milestone.

As Arrow walked onto the field, the crowd was treated to the stirring sounds of ‘Stand By Me’ followed by ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, creating a powerful atmosphere. At 31 years old, Arrow had previously made 178 appearances in the NRL, representing teams like the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans before joining the Rabbitohs in 2021. He also played 12 times for Queensland in the State of Origin series.

Overcome with emotion, Arrow fought back tears as he was introduced to a supportive crowd that applauded and held banners in his honor. Just before kick-off, he waved to fans and shared heartfelt embraces with his teammates. The Rabbitohs were permitted an additional player in their squad for this occasion, allowing Arrow an extra rotation.

Wayne Bennett, the Rabbitohs' head coach, opened his arms to Arrow, who struggled to contain his emotions as he embraced his wife, Berina Colakovic. This moment not only celebrated Arrow's contributions to rugby league but also highlighted the community's support during his challenging journey.