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The sight of Jai Arrow crying before Thursday night’s game will go down as one of the saddest rugby league images you will see this year, but the man himself declared: “I’ll be fighting – I’m not going anywhere soon.”
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.
Players and commentators – and thousands of TV viewers at home – were moved by the scenes of Arrow embracing his partner, Berina, and their daughter, Ayla, at Accor Stadium.
The 30-year-old Arrow announced last month he had been diagnosed with MND, and forced to immediately retire.
Souths wore special white jerseys with the word ‘Arrow’ on the back, while Arrow was asked to ring the club’s famous Legacy Bell before kick-off.
The Broncos, where Arrow started his NRL career, also acknowledged his name on their jerseys, which will be auctioned off and all funds raised directed to him and his young family.
Arrow, whose speech has already been impacted by MND, and often finds it easier to speak when he blocks one of his nostrils, told this masthead after the game: “There 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’m an emotional person.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done in the game. I’ve got a fight on my hands, but I’ll continue to fight.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better night.
“I’m truly grateful for Brisbane, the Rabbitohs and the Gold Coast – I’m very honoured to do what I’ve done playing for those teams.
“But I’ll be around. I’m not going anywhere soon. I’ll be fighting.”
When asked if he had allowed himself to feel angry or pity about the diagnosis, Arrow shook his head and said: “You know what? No. And that is one thing I’ll never do.
“It’s pretty rough to say, but I’m glad it’s me and not someone else.
“It’s the cards I’ve been dealt. I’m ready for it.”
Souths coach Wayne Bennett was at Newcastle when Alex McKinnon was left a quadriplegic 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.
“It’s probably on par with that,” Bennett said.
“We have a wonderful group of people in our game, and whether it’s the fans or the players or the administrators, they all care. When things get really tough, we call come together. That’s what I’m seeing right now as a game for Jai.”
Souths winger Alex Johnston bagged four tries to lead Souths to a 48-6 win over Brisbane. The Broncos hopes of winning successive titles appear over.
Arrow was proud of Johnston’s latest haul, but said: “How many tries is he on now? He could have given me some when I was playing. I’m proud to call him my teammate.”
Arrow appeared in the winning Souths’ sheds and told the group: “I love these boys, I love this club, I’ll always be a Rabbitoh.”
Reynolds, who was the halfback when Souths won the premiership in 2014, then did likewise as skipper of the Broncos last year, made his way to ‘The Burrow’ to thank them for what was likely to be his last time playing in front of the club’s supporter group.
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.
“It was hard before kick-off, and knowing how tough and resilient Jai is, seeing him in tears got me,” Reynolds said.
“It’s never easy seeing the people you love go through tough times. But if there’s anyone who will fight this, it’s him – he’s a fighter.”
Julie Burgess, the mother of Souths’ famous Burgess boys – Sam, Tom, George and Luke – lost her husband Mark to MND. She watched the Broncos clash at the ground with Arrow’s parents and two sisters.
“I don’t know how to put it into words, it’s heartbreaking,” Julie said.
“Seeing the effect on all the family, I just know what they’re all going through, and it’s a horrible journey.
“I 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’t like this. We’re with them all the way.”
The NRL will ask fans to donate to MND charities on July 12, Arrow’s birthday, when Souths play Newcastle.
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