The South Sydney Rabbitohs have announced forward Jai Arrow is retiring effective immediately, after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
The 30-year-old confirmed the news at a press conference on Wednesday, with a representative reading a statement for him, saying he had been diagnosed with “a nerve and neurological condition” following medical testing.
Arrow’s statement said his symptoms had “affected different parts of my every day life”.
MND
MND is a progressive neurological condition that damages the nerve cells responsible for controlling muscle movement.
The disease leads to a gradual loss of muscle strength and function.
There is currently no cure.
According to MND Australia, most people diagnosed with the disease live an average of two to three years, however survival time varies.
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In a statement released by the club, Arrow said:
“What I need right now isn’t sympathy or sadness. What I need is support, understanding, and privacy while my family and I navigate this difficult time.”
Arrow and his partner Berina Colakovic have a one-year-old daughter.
Concussion
In 2024, an international team of scientists linked repeated concussions to developing MND, using the results of testing on retired athletes, including former rugby league players.
During the first half of the 2021 Grand Final, Arrow was hit on the head and went off the field, but returned within a few minutes – less time than the NRL requires to carry out a concussion assessment.
At half-time, he was ruled unfit to play.
After the match, coach Wayne Bennett said the league hadn’t “got [concussion protocols] right.”
