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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n The sight of Jai Arrow crying before Thursday night\u2019s game will go down as one of the saddest rugby league images you will see this year, but the man himself declared: \u201cI\u2019ll be fighting \u2013 I\u2019m not going anywhere soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Arrow was overcome with emotion as two of his former clubs, South Sydney and the Brisbane Broncos, came together to acknowledge and raise funds for his battle with motor neurone disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n Players and commentators \u2013 and thousands of TV viewers at home \u2013 were moved by the scenes of Arrow embracing his partner, Berina, and their daughter, Ayla, at Accor Stadium.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old Arrow announced last month that he had been diagnosed with MND<\/a> and needed to retire immediately.<\/p>\n Souths wore special white jerseys with the word \u201cArrow\u201d on the back, while Arrow was asked to ring the club\u2019s famous Legacy Bell before kick-off.<\/p>\n Related Article The Broncos, where Arrow began his NRL career, also acknowledged his name on their jerseys, which will be auctioned off \u2013 all funds raised will be directed to him and his young family.<\/p>\n Arrow, whose speech has already been affected by MND and who often finds it easier to speak when he blocks one of his nostrils, told this masthead after the game: \u201cThere was a lot of emotion before I walked out, but when I got out there, it got worse. I was bawling my eyes out. I\u2019m an emotional person.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of what I\u2019ve done in the game. I\u2019ve got a fight on my hands, but I\u2019ll continue to fight.<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t have asked for a better night.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m truly grateful for Brisbane, the Rabbitohs and the Gold Coast \u2013 I\u2019m very honoured to do what I\u2019ve done playing for those teams.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019ll be around. I\u2019m not going anywhere soon. I\u2019ll be fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked if he had allowed himself to feel anger or pity about the diagnosis, Arrow shook his head and said: \u201cYou know what? No. And that is one thing I\u2019ll never do.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty rough to say, but I\u2019m glad it\u2019s me and not someone else.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cIt\u2019s the cards I\u2019ve been dealt. I\u2019m ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Souths coach Wayne Bennett was at Newcastle when Alex McKinnon was left a quadriplegic<\/a> as a result of a tackle in a game against Melbourne more than a decade ago, and said there were similarities when it came to how teammates and the clubs were coping with the emotional toll.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s probably on par with that,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a wonderful group of people in our game, and whether it\u2019s the fans or the players or the administrators, they all care. When things get really tough, we all come together. That\u2019s what I\u2019m seeing right now as a game for Jai.\u201d<\/p>\n Souths winger Alex Johnston bagged four tries to lead Souths to a 48-6 win over Brisbane<\/a>. The Broncos\u2019 hopes of winning successive titles appear over.<\/p>\n Arrow was proud of Johnston\u2019s latest haul but said: \u201cHow many tries is he on now? He could have given me some when I was playing. I\u2019m proud to call him my teammate.\u201d<\/p>\n Arrow appeared in the winning Souths sheds and told the group: \u201cI love these boys, I love this club, I\u2019ll always be a Rabbitoh.\u201d<\/p>\n Reynolds, who was halfback when Souths won the premiership in 2014 and did likewise as skipper of the Broncos last year, made his way to \u201cThe Burrow\u201d to thank them for what was probably his last time playing in front of the club\u2019s supporter group.<\/p>\n There was a touching moment when the retiring Reynolds spotted his good mate Arrow before the pair stood in front of the fans for a standing ovation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was hard before kick-off, and knowing how tough and resilient Jai is, seeing him in tears got me,\u201d Reynolds said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s never easy seeing the people you love go through tough times. But if there\u2019s anyone who will fight this, it\u2019s him \u2013 he\u2019s a fighter.\u201d<\/p>\n Julie Burgess, the mother of Souths\u2019 famous Burgess boys \u2013 Sam, Tom, George and Luke \u2013 lost her husband Mark to MND<\/a>. She watched the Broncos clash at the ground with Arrow\u2019s parents and two sisters.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cI don\u2019t know how to put it into words, it\u2019s heartbreaking,\u201d Julie said.<\/p>\n \u201cSeeing the effect on all the family, I just know what they\u2019re all going through, and it\u2019s a horrible journey.<\/p>\n \u201cI love every single one of his family, but this has made us even closer. I was already friends with his sisters and his dad and his mum; I wish it wasn\u2019t like this. We\u2019re with them all the way.\u201d<\/p>\n The NRL will ask fans to donate to MND charities on July 12, Arrow\u2019s birthday, when Souths play Newcastle.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781208433_220_36ebc5cb532ff62a3373130760ba6ad50535b32b.jpeg\")
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Jai Arrow walks on to the field with his daughter, Ayla, on Thursday night.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779535281_903_5a2323f3424f73e7196f8f83d0a99663bdf7c2ca.jpeg\")
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The name of Jai Arrow on the back of all the Rabbitohs players.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Jai](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/cf8ce096af4ebfca47cf46596ee3b90512295dab.jpeg\")
Jai Arrow with Cody Walker (right) and Adam Reynolds before kick-off.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Kieran](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/f7d97a2ce37d8e000784fc08cdf89ccd1ab257b685a8bd1c4c48855e541d58f5.jpeg\")
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