Jai Arrow stepped onto South Sydney’s (sometimes) home ground.
A packed house, much like the man of the moment, struggled to contain its emotions. They came for what preceded the match as much as for what occurred during it.
The clangs of the Legacy Bell, rung by Ron Coote, reverberated around the stadium before the opening notes of Stand By Me rang out over the PA system. And then the moment we had all come for.
With both sets of players on the field, it was time for one of the most enduring sporting anthems of them all. You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Those words were also plastered on the banner Arrow walked through after emerging from the tunnel to raucous applause. Arrow, wearing jersey No.23, acknowledged the crowd. Even the Roosters players put their hands together.
And thus Arrow brought up an Australian sporting century as unforgettable as any ever struck by Don Bradman. This was Arrow’s 100th and final game in the cardinal and myrtle. It was a moment imagined by Wayne Bennett, who, only a week earlier, had helped the larrikin forward put his socks on for game 99.
Tonight, Bennett held the interchange card that allowed Arrow to be replaced by his great mate, Cody Walker.
Everyone came together to make the milestone happen. The NRL and the players’ association granted Arrow special dispensation to “play” following his retirement after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
There was, however, one last obstacle. The Roosters, a feuding foe for well 118 years, needed to agree. Not only did they provide their blessing, their chairman Nick Politis was one of Arrow’s most generous benefactors.
“We don’t always see eye-to-eye with the Roosters, but we also know that celebrating Jai tonight will bring us all together,” said Souths chief executive Blake Solly.
“On behalf of the Rabbitohs we would like to thank the Roosters for their support of Jai since his diagnosis, and we thank them for supporting this concept of Jai reaching 100 NRL games for our club.”
During a half-time interview with Nine’s Danika Mason, Arrow expressed his appreciation for the support he had received.
“It means the world … for me, it’s a great moment,” Arrow said. “I’m so thankful for everyone. I love you all.”
The guard of honour comprised Rabbitohs old boys, who led fans on a march along Driver Avenue from the Sydney Cricket Ground. Among them was another past player doing it tough, Jason Death.
One of the inaugural captains after the Pride of the League was reinstated into the competition, Death has been recovering from a brain bleed suffered after a fall in his Warriewood home. Yet he also wanted to pay homage to the former Maroon.
Arrow’s life expectancy is unclear. Yet earlier in the day, he promised to fight on.
“No, no, don’t worry about me,” Arrow told Triple M. “I understand the disease can be very confronting. I give myself every hope to be around for 10 years, at least.”
The memories he created tonight will last forever.
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