Former NRL veteran James Graham is currently in the middle of a marathon 24-hour fundraiser for former South Sydney forward Jai Arrow as he continues to fight motor neurone disease.

The 24-hour stream through The Bye Round’s Youtube channel began at 7:50pm on Thursday night as the Eels and Rabbitohs game kicked off at Commbank Stadium, and it will run through until kick off for the Broncos and Roosters game on Friday night.

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40-year-old Graham has enlisted a range of figures to support the stream and make special appearances, including Arrow himself, Fox League’s own Luke Keary, and even bringing former Daily Telegraph reporter Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield out of retirement briefly.

“We’ve been inundated with people saying ‘yeah, let us know how to help out’, and it’s for a great cause ‘ we’re going to do our best to raise funds specifically for Jai and his treatment,” Graham said on The Bye Round.

Those funds have flown through across the first 13 hours of the event, with the number hitting $80,000 just over halfway through the stream.

Graham himself is also channeling the characteristics which shaped his entire playing career, he’s pushing through the entire 24-hours as others come and go throughout the day.

Donations can be made to the fundraiser throughout the day here.

Former NRL player James Graham.Source: News Corp Australia

JOEY AND WILLIE PUT FORWARD SHOCK BLUES CANDIDATE FOR ORIGIN COACHING ROLE

NSW Origin legend Andrew Johns has been in the headlines this week, mainly thanks to a suggestion made by his brother Matty when asked if he would coach the Blues.

Matty was asked on Sunday if he would coach NSW, as pressure mounts on Laurie Daley with a series decider looming. In a light-hearted way, Matty said that if ‘Joey’ coached the team, he would assist.

Andrew responded via his column in Nine Newspapers earlier in the week, but has now made a surprise suggestion as to who may be the man for the job should Daley step aside.

Two former State of Origin representatives in Johns and Willie Mason has suggested former Manly and Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett would be the perfect fit for the New South Wales role.

Andrew Johns and Willie Mason like Trent Barrett for the Blues coaching job.Source: Getty Images

“You need a very experienced coach and for mine, someone who has got the DNA of New South Wales and has great experience is Trent Barrett,” Johns said.

“Baz didn’t have great success in first grade with Manly and the Dogs, but the clubs at those times were struggling.

“He was at Penrith when they first started the run and then last year, he did the attack for Brisbane… I think Trent Barrett would be perfect.”

Johns’ sentiment backed up by Bulldogs great Mason, adding Barrett is in touch with the modern game.

“He’s highly respected and he’s a man’s man and he knows what’s going on,” Mason said on the Levels podcast.

“If you’re talking about a player who’s entrenched in the game and understands all the little rules and everything that’s going on, Trent Barrett is your guy.”

Barrett hasn’t had a taste of full-time head coaching in four years, since resigning as Bulldogs coach mid-season in 2022.

Since then, he’s had a stint as an assistant at the Parramatta Eels where he was then tasked with a caretaker role after Brad Arthur was relieved of his duties at the Eels.

Barrett then moved to the Brisbane Broncos as an assistant under Michael Maguire, tasting NRL premiership success last season before a tough run so far in 2026.

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