Jai Arrow opens up about devastating MND diagnosis | Today Show Australia

Well, it's the news that rocked the NRL to its core.South Sydney star Jai Ara retiring from rugby league after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at just 30 years of age.

He opened up on his devastating diagnosis in an interview with our very own Danica Mason.I think we all were so in awe of that interview yesterday.It was a really powerful piece and it was just such an emotional time for us watching on.It's hard to think about what his family's going through.Honestly, one of the things that probably surprises me the most over the past few weeks, few months, is Jai's attitude.

He's vowing to fight this with everything he has.His partner, Marina, his beautiful daughter, Isla, who's just one year old, he is determined to give this everything he's got.He's got an incredible attitude to it.His courage, his resilience, he's shown that on the footy field and he's showing it right now off it.That moment that they told you exactly what this disease is, what was your instant reaction?

Not that I laugh, but my first question was, all right, where do I go from there?

What does the future look like for you?

I wanted to do this to let people know I am OK and I am ready for it.

medically, you know, what can you do?

I want to do everything I can.Any trial, any medication that, you know, will maintain me for as long as possible.I want to inspire as well.I want to inspire other people who have, you know, been diagnosed and that too.show them you can.

You're certainly up for the fight all right well let's bring in South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO Blake Soley.Blake good to see you this morning.This news has just absolutely devastated everyone in the entire rugby league community but even further than that I know you've spent a lot of time with him particularly over the past week or so.What's it been like to watch Jai face this diagnosis with such bravery?

I think everyone who knows Jai knows what a character he is and none of us are too surprised at that attitude that he's going to fight and he wants to be an inspiration for everyone who's been diagnosed but it's also been extremely challenging.He's much loved at our club and in the game and everyone knows Marina and Isla and watching Isla grow up in our building and it's just so sad to see this diagnosis but we also want to support Jai and everyone around him through this fight that he's got on his hands.

I know it must have been such a shock to his teammates, the club and everyone else involved.How is everyone holding up at Souths?

Well, I think everyone's taking their cue from Jai.Obviously, with an insidious and unfair disease like this, you can see the deterioration in front of you.So for many of us, we've been watching this over the last weeks and months and fearing the worst and hoping for a miracle.And unfortunately, we didn't get a miracle.But at the same time, we're watching Jai and the character and the resilience and the courage he's got.And no one wants to let him down and everyone wants to be there for him.

So in some ways, he's inspiring all of us every day when we go into work.

That's the attitude that he has towards this.He is planning to try pretty much anything, any trial, any medication he can.He might even travel for treatment as well.Will the club, the NRL, will they support him on this journey?

Absolutely.I think we've been overwhelmed even in the last 24 hours with the offers of support from other clubs, from Andrew and Peter at NRL headquarters,from people even on the periphery of the game supporting us as a club and supporting him.So there'll be no shortage of support for Jai as he faces this battle.

What about Wayne Bennett?He had some special words for Jai as well, calling him a wonderful young man.He also threw in a little joke there as well during that press conference.Just how much does Jai mean to this club?Because I know his personality, his laughter, his humour, it's just infectious to be around.

It is and I think it probably...The 2025 season showed what Jai means to the club on and off the field.He was our George Piggins medal winner as the best player of the year.He won our Clubman of the Year and he won our South Kairs Community Player of the Year.So that says all about Jai.Not only do you get what you see when he's on the field, but off the field he's worked with St Vincent de Paul, he's worked with Wattability, he's worked with South Kairs.

He's an extraordinary human being and as tough a news as we got yesterday, we're all in this fight with him because we want to see the best for him and Berina and Isla.He's contributed a lot to our club and the game and the Queensland origin team And he deserves every piece of support that he's going to get over the next months and years.

Yeah, that's it He's such a generous person.He'd do anything for anyone So the time's now for the NRL community to really get behind and help him out in any way he can Blake Soli Thank you so much for joining us this morning.

Thank you Danica.

It's one of those ones that we watched yesterday, right and It's, you know, you're shocked because he's such an elite player and so in such great physical form and then to see it unfold and to see the press conference.It's the NRL, you know, rallying around at its best and to see Wayne Bennett, to see the players with the kids, that takes real courage and that's really hard and I reckon, I hope that the NRL reallythe community really rallies and does whatever they can for Jai.You could see that yesterday.Everyone wants to help.

And that's one of the best things about the NRL.When someone's going through a tough time, they always get behind.The entire NRL community always gets behind and does whatever it can and whatever they can to really help.So hopefully in the next days, weeks, we'll get to see a way that we can all help out.

It must have been hard for you, love.You know them really well.That's a personal thing.Everyone knows each other and you obviously have great care for them.

I think Guy's attitude when you're around him, it's infectious.You can't help but believe in his determination to fight this.He says everything with a little joke at the same time.His attitude is truly something that so many people admire.You honestly have those moments where you sit there and you think, nothing else matters in life.Your health.

Your health is the number one thing.

Especially when you look at this beautiful daughter Isla, right?You know, only one.And to think...That for me was the most moving part about it all and the love that he has for her and the affection and knowing that she's the reason he wants to keep going as well and to push through and be that inspiration that she needs and so many others will.

And that's it.These are the moments that he says he's cherishing the most.Watching her grow up.She's got a little attitude around.She puts her hands on the hips at the moment.He's spending as much time with her and just really cherishing those moments before he begins this really big journey ahead of him.

What an awful disease.

So cruel.

So cruel, isn't it?Yeah, so young.

Well done.Excellent work.Thank you and well done to everyone.South Sydney, it's a tough day.