South Sydney continued their tributes to Jai Arrow ahead of their first home game since their former player received a heartbreaking motor neurone disease diagnosis.
The Rabbitohs unveiled their special, one-off all-white jerseys last week – those will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to Arrow and his young family.
They also announced Arrow as part of their squad, giving him the honorary 23 shirt and a place in the locker room.
Along with the Rabbitohs, the Brisbane Broncos – where he started his career – have Arrow’s name and his club number emblazoned on their jerseys above their crest.
Rabbitohsplayers stepped out for warm-ups wearing shirts with Arrow’s name and his club number 1166 on their back.
Arrow was moved to tears as he carried his young daughter onto the field as he was given a standing ovation by the fans and a guard of honour by both sides.
Jai Arrow was visibly emotional as he rang the Legacy Bell ahead of South Sydney’s clash with Brisbane
He was mobbed by his teammates after the ringing of the bell as he received a standing ovation from the fans
And before kick-off fans have been moved to tears after the Rabbitohs showed a video showing their support and love for their former player as he battles the disease.
In the video Rabbitohs players speaking glowlngly of their former teammate as they outline what he was like to play with and more importantly what he is like as a person.
It opens with Cody Walker, who says, ‘Stripped back, past the colours, past the noise, as far as it goes.’
And then a number of Rabbitohs use one word to describe Arrow, ‘brother, warrior, inspirational, competitor, courageous, determined, tough, respected, a leader, selfless,’ the list contained.
There was then more elaboration for Arrow, ‘You always showed up,’ Campbell Graham said.
That was followed by ‘you always put the team first,’ by Alex Johnston and ‘you never took a backward step,’ from David Fifita.
‘You’ve worn the jersey with pride, you’ve played for your mates, the same strength you’ve always shown on the field, you carry it with you now, we carry it with you now,’ Walker says.
‘We’ve got your back,’ then add a whole host of Rabbitohs as the moving video moves to its finish.
It closes with commentary of Jai Arrow scoring for the Rabbitohs as the video pans over the special jersey featuring his name and club number once again.
There has been an outpouring of emotion on social media with so many praising the tribute from the Souths.
One user with the name, Carla JS Claws Out wrote, ‘Beautiful tribute to Jai Arrow. Breaks your damn heart.’
Another, Scott Spurling posted, ‘Heartbreaking watch – Jai Arrow [the] whole rugby community [is] with you brother.’
Arrow carried his young daughter on to the field of play as he was given a guard of honour by both sides
Arrow was the face of the Rabbitohs programmes ahead of kick-off
Rabbitohs players also wore jersey with Arrow’s name on the back
Before kick-off Arrow arrived with the team on the bus and he seemed to be in good spirits as he smiled in front of his locker.
When he took the field there was not a fan in their seats as he was given a standing ovation that clearly touched him.
After he rang the Legacy Bell, he was mobbed by his former Rabbitoh team mates as they took the field to ready themselves for kick-off.
He was then presented with his own Broncos jersey just before he left the field.
And it seems as though the Souths were certainly playing for something bigger than themselves as they raced out to a 30-0 first-half lead.
