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, who was the club's player of the year in 2025, had not played in 2026 due to what was initially described as a shoulder injury.
In a statement on Wednesday, Arrow confirmed the diagnosis following months of testing. 'After extensive medical testing and consultations regarding ongoing symptoms, I have recently received a diagnosis relating to a nerve and neurological condition,' he said. 'On medical advice, I am not currently medically cleared to train or play at the required level, and I will be stepping away from those duties while I focus fully on my health, treatment, and rehabilitation.'
MND affects around 2,750 people in Australia, impacting nerve cells that carry messages from the brain to muscles. The condition is life-threatening with no known cure, though its progression varies between individuals.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett, who coached Arrow at both Souths and Brisbane, described him as 'an honest, genuine, hard-working young man' who always put family and team first. 'This is a difficult time for Jai and his family, however we want to pay tribute to him for everything he has given his teammates, his coaches and his communities,' Bennett said.
Arrow played 178 NRL games since his debut in 2016 and was awarded the George Piggins Medal as the Rabbitohs' best player last season. Club chief executive Blake Solly said Arrow will always be part of the club, adding: 'Handling this situation is much more important than football for Jai and his family.'
