‘Bigger than football’: Rabbitohs, Roosters to unite for Jai Arrow’s 100th match milestone
By Liam Swiggs of RNZ
A historic rivalry between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters will be briefly set aside on Friday, as Jai Arrow is honoured for his 100th NRL game.
Arrow, 31, retired from rugby league earlier this year — just two games shy of his 100th match — as he battles motor neurone disease.
Following his diagnosis, the NRL approved a special one-off rule change that would allow Arrow to reach the milestone with his former club the Rabbitohs; being named as an additional player on the team list and interchange rotation.
The exemption saw Arrow lead the Rabbitohs on to the field at Cbus Super Stadium for his 99th game last weekend, arm-in-arm with teammate Cody Walker, and greeted by a standing ovation.
He was then taken off three seconds after kickoff against the Gold Coast Titans — despite jokingly trying to wave off the call from Rabbitohs co-captain Cameron Murray.
Arrow was then permitted to remain on the bench in his playing kit for the remainder of the match.
Before the game, footage from the changing sheds showed veteran coach Wayne Bennett helping Arrow pull his socks on and lace his boots.
Bennett told Fox League, Arrow was first on the team bus — “right up the front”.
“I didn’t have the heart to tell him that he’s just running on, he’s not staying on,” he joked.
Roosters utility Connor Watson told NRL.com the emotional scenes showed “some things are bigger than football”, and when they meet at Allianz on Saturday for Arrow’s milestone 100th, everyone would be “there to celebrate with him”.
“It’s a privilege to be in that moment with him,” Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte said.
“I know all us Roosters brothers support him.”
Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly told NRL.com the club was grateful for the support from the Titans and the Roosters in accommodating the rule change for the final two games.
“For Jai to be able to add these games to his tally against his former club, and at a game which we believe will be close-to, if not sold-out at Allianz Stadium, will be a fitting tribute,” he said.
Before medically retiring at the start of the year, Arrow played 178 NRL matches. His first-grade career started in 2016 with 24 games across two seasons for the Brisbane Broncos, followed by 56 games for the Gold Coast Titans, then finally 98 games for South Sydney from 2021-2025.
He becomes just the 67th player to reach 100 games for the Rabbitohs in its 118-year history.
RNZ
This story was first published on rnz.co.nz
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