South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow will miss his side’s season opener against the Dolphins on Sunday after investigations into his shoulder injury came back as inconclusive.
Arrow was one of the few Rabbitohs who avoided injury during a luckless 2025 season for the club, but his immediate playing future remains clouded with another meeting in six weeks set to determine what happens next.
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“Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow has undergone a series of investigations over the past four-to-six weeks on his shoulder,” a club statement read.
“The results of those investigations are inconclusive. Arrow saw a specialist today and he will undergo a course of treatment with the specialist over the next four-to-six weeks to see if the nerves in his shoulder settle.
“He will see the specialist again in six weeks’ time for further review.”
Arrow played 24 games for the Rabbitohs last year, but managed just 11 and 14 appearances in the two injury-affected prior seasons.
The 30-year-old is contracted at South Sydney until the end of the 2027 season but the concerning injury update has cast doubt on when he will return to action, if at all.
Dolphins forward Tom Flegler is set to make his first grade comeback this weekend after nearly two years out of the NRL with a complicated shoulder injury.
NRL Physio Brien Seeney pointed out the similarities between the shoulder injuries of Flegler and Arrow, who have both played for Queensland in State of Origin.
“Not an ideal update and sounding very similar to the initial process Tom Flegler went through with the injury in his shoulder,” Seeney wrote.
“These complex nerve issues can have wide ranging outcomes – appears like there’s a bit of an uncertain process ahead for Arrow.”
Souths will unleash Latrell Mitchell at left centre for their game against the Dolphins, with veteran Euan Aitken beating out Tallis Duncan for a starting spot in the back row.
Ashton Ward starts at halfback with Jamie Humphreys out suspended, while Bronson Garlick starts at hooker with Brandon Smith (calf) injured.
The Rabbitohs aren’t the only team dealing with injury setbacks after the Titans confirmed star halfback Jayden Campbell will be out for up to a month.
“Jayden Campbell will miss the club’s season opener against the Sharks after suffering a minor hamstring injury,” the club revealed.
“Scans have revealed a low-grade strain for the playmaker, which will sideline him for the next two-to-four weeks with club medicos opting to take a precautionary approach given the full season of fixtures ahead.”
Penrith will be without star second-rower Liam Martin due to a calf injury for their trip to Brisbane, with Luke Garner named to start ahead of Isaiah Papali’i. Jack Gosiewski will start on an edge for the defending premiers in the heavyweight clash.
Moses Leo will start at centre for the Storm with Nick Meaney shifting to the left wing to replace the injured Xavier Coates, while Ativalu Lisati and Joe Chan both start in the back row with their regular starters unavailable.
Young gun Cooper Clarke will get a crack off the bench as a new era begins for the Storm with Sua Fa’alogo getting his chance at fullback.
They take on a familiar face with Jonah Pezet to start in the halves for the Eels, with Brian Kelly to make his club debut at left centre.
Veteran Daly Cherry-Evans will run out in a Roosters jersey for the first time at NRL level after he was named at five-eighth, with Benaiah Ioelu to play hooker while Reece Robson is injured.
Joey Walsh will come off the bench for Manly with Jamal Fogarty named at halfback against his former side the Raiders who have picked Ethan Sanders to partner Ethan Strange in the halves.
The Green Machine have named Matt Timoko (foot) on an extended bench which sees Simi Sasagi start at right centre with Noah Martin in the back row.
And Sharks winger Sione Katoa (groin) has been cleared to take on the Titans who have named former Dragon Lachlan Ilias at halfback with Campbell out injured.
– With NewsWire
Originally published as Concerns for Rabbitohs star’s future after worrying injury update