Stirring scenes as Jai Arrow rings the bell before emotional clash between South Sydney and Brisbane

‘We’ve never witnessed anything like this, folks. What a moment in this young man’s life.’

An emotional Jai Arrow has rung the South Sydney legacy bell before the club’s fundraiser clash with his former club Brisbane on Thursday night.

The NRL community has rallied around the 30-year-old and his family since his motor neurone disease diagnosis, with the Rabbitohs wearing white-out jerseys with ‘Arrow’ emblazoned on the back of each and every one.

The kits will be auctioned off after the game and the money — as well as profits from replica white-out jerseys — provided directly to the Arrow family to support them through the challenges ahead.

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Brisbane’s jumpers also had Arrow’s club heritage number No.222 emblazoned onto it.

But before a speck of dirt touched the jerseys, players from both sides formed a guard of honour as Arrow walked out with partner Berina and their daughter Ayla.

Arrow was already in tears and fought off more as he rang the bell.

“We’ve never witnessed anything like this, folks. What a moment in this young man’s life,” Andrew Voss said on Fox Sports.

Every player embraced Arrow afterwards and an inspired Souths side quickly went up 12-0 over the Broncos with their mate watching on from the sidelines.

Brisbane staffers had also handed Arrow a Broncos jersey while fans around the ground held up given placards with the forward’s face.

South Sydney’s supporters’ group The Burrow unveiled a banner thanking the lovable forward for his years of service.

“I’ve been in this game since I was a little boy and they, the fans, never fail to amaze me how they get behind someone who’s having a tough time,” Souths coach Wayne Bennett told Fox Sports prior to kick-off.

“I’m always proud of this game that I’ve been involved with all my life and those people make me proud of how they can find time and give so much … the outpouring has been wonderful.

“I coached him (Arrow) from the time he came into first grade at the Broncos, I always loved the way he would never give up and keeps at it.

“In terms of speed, footwork — probably none of those are in his playbook, but his attitude of doing your best and not letting your teammates down was always there.

“Last year we had a really tough year here and he won player of the year because every week he turned up at his best and that’s Jai Arrow.”

Arrow rang the bell on Thursday night three days after tossing the coin at the AFL clash on King’s Birthday following the Big Freeze slide raising funds for FightMND.

He had also joined Queensland in camp for the State of Origin opener last month.

South Sydney and Brisbane are both yet to record a win since Arrow, who played 24 games for Brisbane and 98 for the Rabbitohs as well as 56 for Gold Coast, publicly revealed his diagnosis on May 20.

The injury-ravaged and freefalling Rabbitohs have lost three straight to tumble from comfortably inside the top four to equal eighth, while the Broncos are languishing in 12th spot after winning just five of 13 games in their title defence.

— with AAP

Tearful Arrow breaks down during NRL tribute as fans show support for star after MND diagnosis

Jai Arrow was joined for the touching tribute by his partner Berina and daughter Ayla after his heartbreaking MND diagnosis.

The ex-South Sydney lock, 30, revealed last month he was retiring from the game due to health reasons after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Both clubs stepped out onto the field in special jerseys with Arrow’s name on — the Rabbitohs’ donning an all-white strip.

Jai Arrow broke down during the pre-game tribute (Picture: Twitter / @NRL)

The announcer inside the Accor Stadium then welcomed Arrow onto the pitch alongside his partner Berina and daughter Ayla.

Arrow was immediately overcome with emotion and fell into Berina’s arms after looking up to see the applause from the fans.

There were banners around the ground including those which read “Thank You Jai Arrow” and “Jai Keep On Fighting”.

He eventually composed himself and rang the bell, before both sets of players swarmed him with hugs and handshakes.

Arrow was joined on the pitch by partner Berina and daughter Ayla (Picture: Twitter / @NRL)

He also received the special jerseys from Rabbitohs and Broncos captains Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker — who are also his friends.

Commentator Peter Psaltis could be heard saying on the broadcast: “Hardly a dry eye in the house.”

Arrow was also honorarily named on the Rabbitohs’ bench in another touching gesture.

Ahead of the game, Arrow told Channel 9: “It’s very surreal.

“I never anticipated any of this and truly, from the bottom of my heart, this means the world to me. I didn’t think that many people liked me.

“I’m just very grateful for my family and everyone that’s been a part of it.

“It is what it is. I’ve got a fight on my hands and I will fight.”

Over the weekend, Arrow issued an emotional plea for support as he launched a fundraiser to help his family.

“Like many families facing MND, we have been thrown into a world filled with uncertainty, difficult decisions and challenges that we never imagined we would face,” he said in an emotional video.

Following the brilliant tribute to Arrow, the Rabbitohs raced into an astonishing 30-0 lead at halftime against a dismal Broncos side.

And they continued after the break to claim a comprehensive 48-6 victory.