According to head coach Billy Slater, Jai Arrow has been the “life of the party” in Queensland’s Origin camp.
The 30-year-old connected with his Maroon teammates despite having to retire from rugby last week due to a devastating diagnosis of motor neurone disease.
When the crew arrived in Sydney on Tuesday, Arrow joined them for dinner in Parramatta.
Arrow will board the bus with Queensland and travel to Accor Stadium as well.
Arrow revealed in an interview shortly after declaring his retirement that the sneaky illness had already affected his ability to speak.
Billy Slater claims that despite receiving a devastating diagnosis of motor neurone illness, Jai Arrow has been the “life of the party” in the Queensland camp.
Throughout his career, Arrow made 12 appearances for the Maroons, playing alongside Lindsay Collins, Kurt Capewell, and Cameron Munster—all of whom were chosen for Origins 1.
Additionally, Slater stated that the plan was to honor a popular teammate and promote Arrow.
“The boys get a kick out of seeing their mate … and he’s still the same Jai,” Queensland coach Slater remarked on Tuesday. “He’s obviously going through a bit, and his speech is failing him a little bit, but he’s still got the same sense of humour,” Slater said. He still seems to enjoy being from Queensland.
Over the course of his 11-year career, Arrow played at the State or NRL level with 12 members of Queensland’s 19-man Origin 1 team.
Along with Kurt Capewell, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Lindsay Collins, and Cameron Munster, Arrow was a prominent member of the Maroon team who upset the 2020 series.
“Jai is one of those guys that loves being around his mates, his teammates, a footy environment,” coach Slater said, adding that those memories had been the order of the day as Arrow met up with his former teammates. He is the life of the party, and last night was no exception, according to Slater.
Slater added that Arrow’s attendance at the camp was more about helping the 30-year-old who had to retire early than it was about drawing inspiration from his hardship.
“As Queenslanders, we certainly acknowledged our player 196 last night and celebrated what he brought in the Maroon jersey,” Slater said. “He’s giving a whole heap of inspiration but the decision to bring him in was not to inspire the group.”
Slater added that he has been amazed by his old teammate’s commitment to serve as an example, even though their goal may not be to use Arrow only as motivation.
Similar to Neale Daniher, who tragically passed away on Monday 13 years after receiving his own diagnosis, Arrow has already expressed his desire to be an advocate for the fight against MND. “When people like Jai go through adversity and tough times, and they’re thinking about others and what they can do for others, that’s a pretty cool legacy to leave,” Slater said.
Neale Daniher, an AFL star, passed away on Monday, some 13 years after being diagnosed with MND.
During that period, Daniher emerged as Australia’s most outspoken supporter of the illness’s treatment and cure.
Slater, a resident of Melbourne, saw firsthand how highly Daniher was regarded by the AFL community.
“I know Neale Daniher has done that,” he remarked. “If we can leave this earth with a legacy of other people being better people for your time here, well, job done.” My sympathies, love, and support are extended to the Daniher family.”
