Blues players have thrown their support behind a potential \u2018Try for Jai\u2019 campaign later this year to help raise money for Jai Arrow and his family, after the former Souths star was forced into early retirement following a devastating motor neurone disease diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Arrow, 30, is one of the most beloved figures in the game, with the entire rugby league community rallying around the former Maroons forward as he prepares for the toughest battle of his life. <\/p>\n
Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray was visibly emotional when asked about his teammate, who will receive all the support he needs from the club after he made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t speak too much about Jai, but what I will say is that over the last couple of months he\u2019s shown an incredible amount of strength, and it\u2019s really unbelievable what he\u2019s been going through,\u201d Murray said in Gosford ahead of a Blues training session. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the strength that he\u2019s shown in the face of such a cruel disease has been amazing. He\u2019s definitely left his mark on rugby league for sure, and particularly since he got here in 2021 at the club, he\u2019s left his mark on all of us. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all better people for knowing Jai and we\u2019re all right behind him, and it\u2019s really good to see the support that he\u2019s got throughout the wider rugby league community and even past that. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it just speaks about his character and the impact that he\u2019s had on everyone that he\u2019s come into contact with. There\u2019s no better bloke and we\u2019re all behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all love him, so we\u2019ll be there with him through this fight. Life can be pretty cruel sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NRL scrapped its Try July promotion this year due to its connection to gambling sponsors, but there have been calls to bring in something similar to raise funds for Arrow and his young family. <\/p>\n
The campaign has raised money for former players over the years, with current stars more than happy to get involved in a similar initiative to help out a man who gave his all to the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that would be a great initiative,\u201d Blues rookie Blayke Brailey said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think if we can all do our part and help out in some small or big capacity, I would love to get on board with that. Hopefully the NRL and the clubs can sort something out because I think that\u2019ll be an amazing initiative for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t had too much to do with him, but just like everyone else, I\u2019m really shocked and saddened by the news. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know Cam and everyone\u2019s getting around him and the Souths staff there, so he\u2019s got all our support.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter if you\u2019re a Souths fan or if you know Jai, you\u2019ll send your love and your prayers to him and hopefully he can get through this tough time.\u201d<\/p>\n
NSW superstar Nathan Cleary said the shock diagnosis was a reminder that there are bigger things in life than what happens on a footy field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to pass on my best wishes to Jai and also his family. It\u2019s devastating news and you never want to see anyone go through that, just as human beings. So I want to definitely pass on my best wishes to him and his family,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s rocked not only our team, Queensland\u2019s team, the whole NRL, but also just everyone in general. It just goes to show how precious life is and you\u2019ve got to make the most of it. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are moments that happen throughout life that make you realise that (there are things bigger than football) and this is one of those. It\u2019s just what we do at the end of the day, but there\u2019s definitely more to life.\u201d<\/p>\n