Arrow’s one wish as he prepares for 31st birthday celebrations
A wedding, a State of Origin series decider and now a birthday. It is fair to say it has been a busy week for retired Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow.
On Sunday, Arrow will celebrate his 31st birthday with the NRL community as the Rabbitohs prepare to host the ‘biggest birthday party’ in his honour following his motor neurone disease diagnosis.
Jai Arrow sits down with 9News ahead of his 31st birthday. 9News
Iconic Australian children’s music group the Wiggles will be performing at the celebration on Sunday and fans will also get a party hat with Arrow’s name on it.
But Arrow only has one wish he hopes to come true when the festivities kick off.
“I could say something like to live a long and healthy life, but for me, I think it is just to enjoy my life,” he told 9News on Friday.
“And I am doing that at the moment so I will continue to do that.”
The celebrations will take place at Accor Stadium when the club takes on the Knights, a match that Arrow hopes will end in victory for his former team.
“Oh and that, [I wish for] a Bunnies win,” he added laughing.
The NRL revealed before the July fixtures began that a charitable donation would be made when any player used a bow-and-arrow gesture in honour of Arrow.
The try-scoring celebration has been spotted all around the country during club games as well as in the representative arena during the Origin decider.
NRL players are not the only ones that have been seeing using the celebration, with Swans star Tom Papley celebrating a goal with bow-and-arrow gesture. Athletes in the English Super League and rugby codes have also done the gesture.
Arrow admitted that it has been “overwhelming, but in a good way” to see the support for him and his family across the entire sporting community.
Still, he reiterated that not much has changed in his life since the diagnosis.
“Nothing has changed at all, other than the ring on my finger,” he said.
Jai Arrow and his wife Berina. Instagram/@bericolakovic
Arrow revealed earlier this week that he and his partner Berina had tied the knot in a small ceremony in Sydney, with their 15-month-old daughter Ayla in attendance.
Reflecting on his wedding day, Arrow choked back tears as he recalled watching his daughter run around and almost steal the show while he married his wife.
“Seeing her running around and smiling,” he began.
“Even though she won’t remember, just seeing her mum and dad get married [was heartwarming].”
The Rabbitohs will face Newcastle on Sunday at 2pm.
