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South Sydney Rabbitohs player Joy Arrow has announced her retirement from rugby league after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
The 30-year-old confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday that he had retired from the game on medical grounds after “months of testing and treatment”.
In a statement shared by the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Arrow said: “Thank you for the support I have received during what has been an incredibly difficult and uncertain time in my life.
“After extensive medical tests and consultations regarding ongoing symptoms, I recently received a diagnosis related to a nerve and neurological condition. Further tests, expert reviews and treatment are still ongoing, and my doctors continue to evaluate my condition.
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Sky Sports’ Geraint Hughes spoke to MND Association Chief Scientist Dr Brian Dickie MBE, who explained what the disease is and how it affects sport.
“In recent months, my symptoms have affected many parts of my daily life.
“Based on medical advice, I am not currently medically cleared to train or play at the required level, and I will step down from those responsibilities while I focus fully on my health, treatment and rehabilitation.
“I would like to sincerely thank everyone at the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the personal support they have shown me and my family throughout this process. The South Sydney Rabbitohs, my teammates, staff and everyone behind the scenes have made facing an incredibly difficult situation so much easier.
“What I need right now is not sympathy or sadness. What I need is support, understanding and privacy as my family and I navigate this difficult time.
“This is only part of my story, and when the time is right, I will share more. But for now, I ask everyone to respect my privacy as I continue to work with my doctor and my family.”
Joy Arrow announced her diagnosis at a press conference on Wednesday
Rabbitohs head coach Wayne Bennett added: “I’ve had the pleasure of coaching Joy for many years now, first at the Broncos and now at South Sydney.
“Joy is an honest, genuine, hard-working young man who always puts his family and his team first. He has always been the same.
“This is a difficult time for Joy and her family. However, we want to pay tribute to her teammates, her coaches and the people of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Queensland and her community here in South Sydney.
“Most importantly, we pay tribute to him for the family man he has become. He is a special man and we are all very lucky to have him at our club and in our lives.”
Arrow played 178 NRL games after making his debut for the Brisbane Broncos in 2016, as well as 12 State of Origin matches for Queensland.
He is the latest player in both codes of rugby to be diagnosed with MND. Former Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow died from MND in 2024, British and Irish Lions stalwart Doddy Weir died in November 2022 and former Queensland icon Carl Webb also died of the disease in 2023.
Former England rugby union captain Lewis Moody revealed his MND diagnosis in October last year.
Rugby League sends its support to the World Arrows
For more information:
Every day, the MND Association supports people with motor neurone disease, campaigns for better care and funds ground-breaking research. Because with MND, every day counts. Last year alone, the MND Association funded 53 new research grants totaling £14.9m, awarded more than £4m in grants to support those living with the disease and answered 5,252 calls to their Connect helpline.
To find out more about what help is available and the work of the MND Association, please visit www.mndassociation.org Or call the Connect helpline on 0808 802 6262
