Jai Arrow has launched a public fundraising campaign to help him access treatment and specialist care as he confronts the rapid progression of motor neurone disease, the former NRL star revealing that his speech has already deteriorated sharply since symptoms first emerged late last year.
The 30-year-old, who was forced into immediate retirement last month after receiving his diagnosis, announced the Stand With Me initiative to cover the mounting costs of living with the condition, including therapies, specialist equipment, home modifications and support for his young family. Arrow acknowledged that asking for help does not come naturally, but said the campaign would allow him to pursue every possible treatment while also securing his one-year-old daughter Ayla’s future.
“My life changed forever when I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease,” Arrow said. “No matter how many games you’ve played, how many tackles you’ve made or how many challenges you’ve faced on a football field, nothing prepares you for hearing those words.”
Facing a progressive disease with no cure
Motor neurone disease is a relentlessly progressive neurological condition that attacks the nerve cells responsible for movement. There is currently no cure, and the disease typically leads to loss of speech, mobility, and eventually breathing as the nerves controlling voluntary muscles degenerate. Arrow’s symptoms first appeared late last year, and his speech has deteriorated quickly since then — a common early sign in some forms of MND.
Arrow had been undergoing months of testing and consultations for ongoing symptoms that affected “different parts of his everyday life”. He was not medically cleared to train or play, and in May announced his immediate retirement on medical grounds. He had not played in the NRL in 2026, with the issue initially described as a shoulder injury.
Determined to explore treatments not widely available in Australia, Arrow recently travelled to SHA Spain, a specialist wellness and rehabilitation centre. There, he is undertaking a regimen that includes hyperbaric chamber sessions, a tailored diet and exercise programme. “It’s the first step for me to mentally prepare for what is going to be a pretty hefty battle,” he said before departing. “I’ll be doing everything – hyperbaric chamber, diet, exercise. I’m going over there to get ready to fight for my life.”
Spain offers a range of approaches to MND treatment, including pharmaceutical therapies such as Riluzole and newer options like Qalsody (Tofersen) for specific genetic mutations. Hospitals with specialist neurology departments, including Quirónsalud Madrid and Hospital Ruber Internacional, are noted for their work in the field, while clinical trials — such as one in Barcelona investigating focused ultrasound neuromodulation — continue.
Arrow’s focus remains on his fiancée Berina Colakovic and their daughter Ayla, whom he calls his biggest motivation. “Every day I wake up wanting to be the best dad I can be and to create as many special memories with her as possible,” he said. “She is my motivation, my purpose and my reason to keep pushing forward.” Colakovic has spoken of her hopes for more children, though she acknowledges the challenges posed by the disease’s limited lifespan.
Rugby league rallies round
The rugby league community has mobilised rapidly since Arrow’s diagnosis. The NRL has announced a month-long fundraising initiative called Jai July, which replaces the earlier Try July promotion, and league boss Peter V’landys has promised to throw the “world’s biggest birthday party” when Arrow turns 31 on July 12. The celebration will coincide with South Sydney’s match against the Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium, with donations encouraged in lieu of gifts.
South Sydney Rabbitohs, Arrow’s club — for which he was the reigning player of the year, winning the George Piggins Medal in 2025 — will honour him during next week’s clash with the Brisbane Broncos. Coach Wayne Bennett called Arrow a “wonderful, wonderful young man” and vowed the club would always support him and his family.
Fundraising efforts have spread across the game. The North Queensland Cowboys organised a 50-50 raffle that raised over $50,000. Australian brand Budgy Smuggler is donating 100 per cent of proceeds from its NRL collection to Arrow and his family. A Standing with Jai charity auction has also been established, and a GoFundMe page titled “Jai July raising awareness for a great bloke fighting MND” has been set up by supporters. Players including Cameron Murray and Blayke Brailey have backed the Try for Jai campaign, urging the NRL to dedicate funds to MND research.
Actor and rugby league commentator Matt Nable, who lost his younger brother Aaron to bulbar onset MND in March 2024, delivered an emotional message of support. Aaron Nable — a former national amateur boxing champion — was diagnosed in July 2022 and died aged 46. “The road will be tough, it will seem at times unfair. Jai Arrow is going to fight,” Matt Nable said. “We are walking with you. We are holding you. We are on this journey with you. Fight mate, we are with you.”
Arrow said the outpouring of support has been overwhelming. “Throughout my life and career, I have always tried to help others whenever I could,” he said. “Today, I find myself in the unfamiliar position of needing support myself. Thank you for standing beside me and my family and helping me continue this fight.”
