Arabic version: جاي أرو يعود في محطة بارزة مع ساوث سيدني

According to The Guardian, Jai Arrow made a brief return for South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday, appearing before their game against Gold Coast Titans to record his 99th match for the club. Arrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in May and immediately retired from rugby league, having made 98 appearances for Souths.

The NRL granted South Sydney special dispensation for Arrow to take the field at the start of the Rabbitohs’ final two regular-season games. The arrangement is intended to allow the 31-year-old to reach 100 club appearances while he is still able to walk. He is due to join the 100-game club in next week’s final regular-season match against Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.

Arrow walked out in full kit before the Titans match at Cbus Super Stadium, leading South Sydney onto the pitch to You’ll Never Walk Alone. Both sets of supporters gave him a warm reception. He left the field before kick-off, as planned, and did not take part in play or take his place on the interchange bench.

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett said Arrow was “very nervous” but pleased to be part of the group. Bennett said Arrow still attends training despite being unable to train with the team, adding that “the friendship, the mateship is there and he needs us and we need him.” The special arrangement has the support of the Titans, Roosters and the players’ union, RLPA, and allows Souths to name Arrow as an extra player and use an extra substitution.

Arrow played 12 games for Queensland in State of Origin and made 56 appearances for the Titans before joining South Sydney. The Stand With Jai fundraising campaign, led by the NRL, has raised more than Aus $1m for Arrow and his family. MND is a progressive neurological condition that damages nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement; it is life-threatening and has no known cure.