Souths veteran Jai Arrow has been forced to call an abrupt end to his NRL career after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly made the devastating announcement on Wednesday that the former Maroons Origin star has been forced to medically retire due to the shock diagnosis.
The 30-year-old hasn’t featured for the Bunnies this season after battling a shoulder injury from 2025. He played through the pain last year due to the unprecedented injury crisis at the club but things haven’t improved this year and now it’s become clear why.
Souths and former Maroons Origin star Jai Arrow has been forced to medically retire from the NRL after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Pic: Getty.
(Getty)
“Thank you for the support I’ve received over what has been an incredibly difficult and uncertain period in my life,” a shattered Arrow said after announcing his retirement. “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.”
MND is a neurological disease that destroys the motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord and affect a person’s voluntary muscles. It erodes a person’s ability to move, speak, swallow and breathe.
Jai Arrow opens up on devastating MND diagnosis
Arrow says he’d started to notice more effects of the debilitating condition in recent weeks. And after a series of tests and consultations with medical specialists he was left with no other choice but to hang up the boots.
“Over recent months, my symptoms have affected different parts of my everyday life,” Arrow said. “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.”
Rabbitohs veteran Jai Arrow made the heartbreaking revelation on Wednesday that he’s been forced to retire from the NRL after being diagnosed with MND. Pic: Getty
(Mark Metcalfe via Getty Images)
Arrow’s retirement comes after a glittering career for the tough-tackling forward, who played 12 games for Queensland between 2018 and 2023. He was part of Origin series wins for Queensland in 2020, 2022 and 2023, and also played in the Rabbitohs’ 2021 grand final loss to Penrith.
The former Maroons forward has featured in 98 games for the Rabbitohs since Wayne Bennett lured him to the club in 2021 from the Gold Coast Titans. Prior to that Arrow enjoyed a two-year stint at the Broncos.
Jai Arrow praises support from club, family and friends
The Rabbitohs’ player of the season in 2025, Arrow says the support he’s received from the club, teammates, family and friends during the months-long ordeal had been amazing. “The South Sydney Rabbitohs, my teammates, staff, and everyone behind the scenes have made an incredibly hard situation much easier to face,” he said.
“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.”
Arrow’s diagnosis comes two and a half years after former Queensland enforcer Carl Webb tragically died of MND at age 42. And tributes have been flowing across the rugby league world for Arrow as fans send their well wishes to the 30-year-old.
with AAP