Source :- THE AGE NEWS
There is no stopping the Rabbitohs today.
Perhaps a bit of the Jai Arrow factor – a team rising to the occasion – and also a bit of the fact the Titans are atrocious.
The Gold Coast do have one try on the board, which came in the 30th minute from Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, but besides that, there isn’t much to celebrate for the Titans.
At half-time, it’s South Sydney 28, Gold Coast 6. Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray has a double – the first of which came in the second minute of the match – while Keaon Koloamatangi, Euan Aitken and David Fifita also have a try to their name.
And actually, in case you didn’t know, this is the first time Fifita has played against his former club. That’s got to hurt for the Titans.
Arrow took to the field alongside teammate Cody Walker as all his teammates slapped him on the back and ran out around him.
When referee Liam Kennedy blew the whistle, Arrow came from the field to applause in what was a very emotional moment.
Never one to lose his sense of humour, Arrow tried to shoo away South Sydney captain Cameron Murray who was being substituted onto the field for him, before the two embraced and Arrow went to the bench.
Rugby league really can be a great sport.
Since Arrow announced his diagnosis in May this year, his movement and speech has become increasingly limited.
MND causes the muscles to weaken and waste away, and people who are diagnosed begin to lose function over time.
When speaking to Herald reporter Christian Nicolussi this week, Arrow said he was having difficulty with movement.
“I am progressing unfortunately, I can’t run any more, so I will be walking, and I can’t control my emotions, so I’m either going to cry my eyes out or laugh my head off,” Arrow said.
“I also get real stiff when I get embarrassed, so there might be a bit of a limp when I walk off, but that’s the disease. I’ll be right. If anything looks unnatural out there, blame it on the MND.”
In an extremely touching moment pre-game, South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett helped Arrow put his shoes and socks on in the team sheds, with his diagnosis making even the small things in life difficult sometimes.
It was a beautiful moment between player and coach, and it was Bennett who approached Arrow with the idea of bringing up 100 games.
In case you missed it, the Rabbitohs were given permission from the NRL to allow Jai Arrow start against the Titans this afternoon to bring up game 99 for the club.
He will do the same next week against the Roosters to make it 100 games for South Sydney, after entering early retirement following an MND diagnosis.
Arrow promised it would be an emotional when he spoke with reporter Christian Nicolussi earlier this week, and emotional it was.
We will bring you that moment, and the touching pre-match moment between him and coach Wayne Bennett, soon.
Good afternoon football fans.
It’s emotional scenes on the Gold Coast, which is where our blog starts this afternoon.
Jai Arrow – who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease this year – has just started in the Rabbitohs match against the Gold Coast, to bring up his 99th game for the club.
We’ll bring you more on that moment, the match, and the Roosters match against the Dolphins this afternoon.
