South Sydney veteran Jai Arrow has announced his immediate retirement from the NRL on medical grounds following a diagnosis of motor neurone disease after undergoing months of testing and treatment.
Arrow, 30, hasn’t played a game this season for the club, with the former Maroons representative revealing that his symptoms have affected parts of his everyday life.
The devastating diagnosis was confirmed at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday afternoon, where Arrow broke down in tears as he sat next to chief executive Blake Solly and veteran coach Wayne Bennett.
Arrow was one of the toughest players of his generation, with the Rabbitohs vowing to support him and his family during the toughest battle of his life.
“Thank you for the support I’ve received over what has been an incredibly difficult and uncertain period in my life,” Solly said as he read Arrow’s statement.
“After extensive medical testing and consultations regarding ongoing symptoms, I have recently received a diagnosis relating to a nerve and neurological condition. Further tests, specialist reviews and medical processes are still ongoing, and my doctors are continuing to assess my condition.
“Over recent months, my symptoms have affected different parts of my everyday life.
“On medical advice, I am not currently medically cleared to train or play at the required level, and I will be stepping away from those duties while I focus fully on my health, treatment, and rehabilitation.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone at the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the personal support they have shown me and my family throughout this process. The South Sydney Rabbitohs, my teammates, staff, and everyone behind the scenes have made an incredibly hard situation much easier to face.
“To my teammates, thank you for treating me exactly the same every single day. Within minutes of walking through the doors, most of you are still making me laugh with the usual banter, and honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
“To my family and closest mates, thank you for standing beside me through all of this. I know the road ahead won’t be easy, but anyone who knows me knows I’m competitive, stubborn, and ready to fight this with everything I’ve got.
“What I need right now isn’t sympathy or sadness. What I need is support, understanding, and privacy while my family and I navigate this difficult time.
“This is only part of my story, and when the time is right, I’ll share more. But for now, I ask everyone to respect my privacy while I continue working with my doctors and my family.”
Former Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys forward Carl Webb was the first high-profile NRL player to be diagnosed with MND in 2020.
He established the Carl Webb Foundation to support families affected by MND and help other sufferers before dying in 2023 aged 42.
Former AFL star and coach Neale Daniher is synonymous with the fight against MND.
Diagnosed in 2013, Daniher founded FightMND, a charity that has raised more than $115m for research into MND and care programs.
Other Australians diagnosed with MND include TV personality Fiona McDonald, iconic artist Pro Hart, and Victorian state MP Emma Vulin, while legendary English rugby league player Rob Burrow died two years ago after a battle with the insidious disease.
Arrow made his NRL debut for the Broncos in 2016 under Bennett and was reunited with the legendary coach at the Rabbitohs in 2021 after a stint on the Gold Coast.
The master mentor said the club would always be there to support Arrow and his family.
“A wonderful, wonderful young man to be part of a football club,” Bennett said.
“He has all the attributes that make good footballers. And I see some of his teammates here today as well.
“Like all of us, we can’t believe what’s going to happen to him. But the fact is it’s happened.
“What he does know, he knows he’s got the support of everybody in the change room and he knows that he’s the support of everybody on the staff, and he knows everybody that’s a part of South Sydney has their support.
“He’ll need that. But we’ll always be there for him in this club. It is the last way you want someone to retire. But it is what it is and he’s handled it great and he is helping us handle it a lot better as well.”
Originally published as Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow reveals shock health diagnosis, announces retirement
