South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow has announced his retirement from the NRL after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). The 30-year-old Queensland representative player, who had not featured in the 2026 season due to what was initially described as a shoulder injury, confirmed the news in a statement on Wednesday.
Arrow said that after months of testing and specialist consultations, he had received the diagnosis for a nerve and neurological condition. He is currently not medically cleared to train or play and will focus on his health, treatment, and rehabilitation. MND affects nerve cells that carry messages from the brain to muscles, and there is currently no cure.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett praised Arrow as an honest and hard-working young man who always put his family and team first. Bennett, who coached Arrow at both the Rabbitohs and the Brisbane Broncos, acknowledged the difficult time for Arrow and his family, highlighting his contributions to the club and community.
Arrow played 178 NRL games since his debut in 2016 and was awarded the George Piggins Medal last year as the Rabbitohs' best player. Club chief executive Blake Solly said Arrow will always be part of the club, adding that handling the situation is more important than football, and expressed confidence that Arrow will fight the illness with the same bravery that marked his playing career.
