Barely a week after shocking the NRL world when announcing his medical retirement from football due to the cruel neurodegenerative condition, Arrow boarded a plane out of Sydney on Friday night, headed for a neurological wellness retreat in Spain. <\/p>\n
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The centre will help best prepare Arrow for his battle against MND in terms of nutrition, sleep, fitness and psychological strategies. <\/p>\n
It is understood Arrow boarded the first plane available after finalising his plans earlier in the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the first step for me to mentally prepare for what is going to be a pretty hefty battle,\u201d Arrow told Code Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be doing everything \u2013 hyperbaric chamber, diet, exercise. I am really looking forward to getting over there, learning and then coming home and getting stuck into this bastard.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to get away from reality for a bit and then I\u2019ll come home and face the music.\u201d<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n Jai Arrow is off to Spain.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n Arrow\u2019s public battle against MND has inspired the NRL world, with players, coaches and fans alike rallying behind the former Rabbitoh. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also been part of the outpouring of support.<\/p>\n Arrow\u2019s announcement earlier this month came as a shock given his age and the fact he was still playing professional sport. <\/p>\n Symptoms of the disease first presented in Arrow\u2019s left shoulder late last year. His speech has also deteriorated in recent months.<\/p>\n Arrow has vowed to fight the disease head-on.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to help find a cure and inspire people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going over there to get ready to fight for my life.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be honest, I have my moments, but I make sure they\u2019re not around my family, friends and daughter. I have been dealt these cards and I just have to put up with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Arrow\u2019s trip to Spain marks a huge two-week period, which also included time in the Queensland Origin camp for the former Maroon before joining the squad from the stands at Accor Stadium.<\/p>\n Arrow played 12 Origins during his career, as well as 178 NRL appearances across the Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Titans and Rabbitohs.<\/p>\n Former South Sydney Rabbitoh and Queensland Origin star Jai Arrow at Sydney International Airport, about to board a flight to Spain to attend a wellness centre in his battle with Motor Neurone Disease.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n FLANAGAN OPENS UP ON UGLY SIDE TO COACHING<\/p>\n Former NRL coach Shane Flanagan has opened up on his recent departure from the Dragons and how \u201cabusive emails\u201d took a toll on his family.<\/p>\n Flanagan and the Dragons parted ways in late April, with Flanagan conceding on Saturday afternoon that he \u201cdidn\u2019t want to leave\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been tough, real tough. I love my job, I love coaching, I didn\u2019t want to leave,\u201d he said on Triple M<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cBut we lost six or seven in a row. I\u2019ve always had the belief that there\u2019s no one person bigger than the club.\u201d <\/p>\n Flanagan revealed he had some \u201cgood chats\u201d with both CEO Tim Watsford and Chairman Andrew Lancaster at the time, agreeing that the club needed to do \u201csomething to break the cycle\u201d.<\/p>\n