Jai Arrow has spoken for the first time since revealing he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. In the interview, he opened up about how the past six months have been and revealed that the disease has already started to impact his speech.
Emotional Press Conference
The 30-year-old shocked the rugby world when he attended a press conference alongside head coach Wayne Bennett and club chief executive Blake Solly. The former South Sydney Rabbitoh fought back tears as Solly read out a pre-prepared statement confirming the life-altering diagnosis. Coach Wayne Bennett then took over the proceedings, offering support to the player he gave his first-grade debut to. Along with his touching tribute, Bennett even managed to draw a laugh out of Arrow when he joked that he was the Rabbitohs' sixth captain last season due to an injury crisis.
First Interview Since Diagnosis
Arrow, who was silent during the media session, has since given his first interview about the impact of the devastating illness. He initially opened up about spending time with his daughter, calling her 'his greatest strength.' 'She's at a really good age now and I am able to watch her grow into her own person,' he said on 9News Sydney. 'She has got a really funny personality and she's my greatest strength.'
When asked about his instant reaction to the diagnosis, he responded: 'I laughed. Not that I laughed, but my first question was 'all right, where do I go now?' [It has] progressed from November until now. Speech is one of those things [that is different].'
Defiant About the Future
The former Bunnies forward remained defiant when asked about what the future would hold for him. 'To fight,' he said when asked what the future looked like. 'I wanted to do this to let people know I am OK and I am ready to fight. I do really have a lot. Nothing is gonna take me out easy. I wanna do everything I can - any trial, any medication that will maintain me for as long as I can. I want to inspire other people who have been diagnosed.'
Statement and Support
Prior to the interview, his diagnosis and subsequent retirement were confirmed via a statement read out by Solly. 'After extensive medical testing and consultations regarding ongoing symptoms, I've recently received a diagnosis relating to a nerve and neurological condition,' Solly said on Arrow's behalf. 'Further tests, specialist reviews and medical processes are still ongoing, and my doctors are continuing to assess my condition. Over recent months, my symptoms have affected different parts of my everyday life. On medical advice, I'm currently not medically cleared to train or play at the required level, and I'll be stepping away from those duties while I focus fully on my health treatment and rehabilitation. 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.'
Wayne Bennett was full of praise and support for a player he's known for nearly a decade, and his joke even brought a little levity to what is a difficult time for Arrow and his family. 'If you look at his football ability, he's not what you'd call a natural,' Bennett joked. 'So to achieve what he has achieved, he's played origin, he's captained the club here, he was the sixth captain here last year.' Arrow has certainly displayed that fighting spirit during his career on the pitch and his attitude towards his diagnosis is indicative of him as a person.
