Arrow expresses 'incredible' gratitude following 100th game

Jai Arrow has expressed his gratitude to all those involved in allowing him to play his 100th and final game for South Sydney on Friday night.

Having been on 98 matches for the cardinal and mrytle when he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND) in May, the Queensland representative had appeared to have played his final NRL game.

But South Sydney officials working alongside the NRL, RLPA, Gold Coast Titans and Sydney Roosters managed to change the rules for Souths' last two games of the home and away season to allow Arrow to start on the field for the opening kick-off and allow him to cross triple digits before being immediately subbed off.

This resulted in an outpouring of emotion at Allianz Stadium as the 31-year-old took to the field for the last time.

Speaking on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters: Rugby League, the 18--game player was honoured by the support he has received since his diagnosis.

“The amount of support that I've had over the past four months has been incredible,” Arrow said.

“I'm seeing that (the vision of him walking out) there for the first time. I'm proud, I'm emotional, but truly honoured that there were so many people that cheered me on and obviously both teams (Gold Coast and Sydney).”

A large driver of this push to get Arrow to 100 club games had been his coach Wayne Bennett.

With the supercoach being the second rower’s first NRL coach at the Brisbane Broncos, the two have shared a special bond, with Arrow being grateful for the opportunity to play again.

“It's not (an) ideal situation with what's going on with me and there's no better person to, I suppose navigate me through this time,” he continued.

“Him (Bennett) coming up with that idea, I never thought I would ever get the chance to play again and he’s just been unreal.

“I love that man and he’s been a massive influence on me.”

Throughout his journey since diagnosis of the terminal condition, the three-club player did admit that he was initially ‘petrified’.

But now, he has never been mentally better as he continues to fight for those who are suffering from the disease.

“Not anymore,” Arrow explained.

“I was petrified. The unknown (of) where this disease heads, but at the moment, I’m mentally in the best headspace I’ve ever been in.

“At the moment, I’m taking each day one at a time and I'm genuinely enjoying life.

“The amount of support I've had and the things that I've done, the World Cup final, went to the Bahamas...I’ve done some pretty cool stuff.

“But I think the most enjoyable thing that I am doing is the amount of awareness has come from this.

“Essentially, the end goal is to find a cure, and I'm all for that, and I'll do everything in my power to help families who are suffering from MND and myself.”