Jai Arrow will make cameo appearances in the final two rounds of the regular season in order to reach 100 games for South Sydney.
In one of the feel-good stories of the NRL season, the forward who retired with motor neurone disease in May has been approved to start on the field in rounds 26 and 27.
Arrow will then be substituted out in the opening seconds before any active involvement in play.
It came after the Rabbitohs made an appeal to the NRL to grant the former Queensland representative an on-field swansong while still able to walk and run.
The initiative gives Arrow two final chances to farewell an NRL career that featured a grand-final appearance in 2021 and 12 State of Origin caps.
The NRL has granted Souths special dispensation to name Arrow as an extra player on today’s team list and an extra substitution in their rotation.
The matches, against Gold Coast and the Sydney Roosters, will bring Arrow’s tally to 180 career games and 100 for the Rabbitohs.
Arrow will lead the team out on both occasions and sit on the interchange bench in Souths kit after being substituted out.
The Titans and Roosters have both approved the plan, as have the Rugby League Players Association.
“We are very grateful to Peter [V’landys] and the NRL, and Clint [Newton] at the RLPA, for supporting our proposal,” Souths chief executive Blake Solly said.
“We believe this will provide great inspiration for everyone watching the game from the stadium or at home, showing that MND will not hold Jai, or anyone else, back from achieving what they want to achieve in life.”
The NRL world has rallied around Arrow since his shock diagnosis and immediate retirement in May.
The league threw Arrow “the world’s biggest birthday party” on the day Souths beat Newcastle in July, rolling out a birthday cake in the shape of the 31-year-old’s jersey and presenting him with a commemorative jersey.
Fundraising efforts have already passed $1 million in support of Arrow, who is the father of a young daughter.
Players from all clubs have shown their support by marking tries with arrow celebrations throughout the month of July.
AAP
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