In a moving show of team solidarity just days after Jai Arrow’s forced retirement from professional rugby league following a devastating motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis, Queensland Maroons head coach Billy Slater has opened up about the decision to welcome the veteran forward into the team’s pre-series camp ahead of the State of Origin opener in Sydney.
Arrow, a 12-game veteran for the Maroons and respected NRL forward with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, announced his medical retirement last week, shocking the Australian rugby league community. Slater, who shared the field with Arrow during the 2018 Origin series, made it a priority to bring the popular forward into the Maroons’ team environment ahead of the first match, with Arrow joining the entire squad for a team dinner in Parramatta on Monday night.
“Jai is one of those guys that thrives around his mates, his teammates, and the footy environment. He’s always been the life of the party, and that didn’t change last night,” Slater told reporters. “To see Jai laughing and joking with the boys, it made for such a special environment. We just knew it was really important to have Jai here for Jai. This was also a chance to honor his incredible career. We all understand the journey he’s starting now, and it’s going to be incredibly tough. Every Queenslander, every member of the rugby league community, is right behind him.”
Slater also paused to pay tribute to Australian AFL legend Neale Daniher, who passed away on Monday after a years-long public battle with MND. Daniher, named 2025 Australian of the Year, raised millions of dollars for critical MND research during his fight, leaving a lasting legacy for those impacted by the disease. Acknowledging the difficult road ahead for Arrow, Slater said the forward’s presence in camp had already left a profound mark on the entire Maroons squad, even though the decision to invite him was rooted purely in support, not inspiration.
“The thing I admire most about Jai is how reliable he is. He’s a tough, hardworking player, but more than that, he’s a reliable mate and a reliable teammate — that’s what I love about him,” Slater said. “When he gave his interview with Danika Mason, I was so struck by the fact that even now, he wants to inspire other people going through tough times. When someone faces this kind of adversity and still thinks about what they can give to others, that’s an incredible legacy to leave.”
While Arrow’s speech has started to decline due to the progression of MND, Slater said the forward retained his signature sense of humor and love for Queensland rugby league. “He’s still the same Jai. The boys love having him here, and he’ll remain with the group through game night. He’ll ride on the team bus to the stadium and be right there with the squad on match day,” Slater confirmed.
Beyond the emotional team news, Slater addressed on-field preparations, downplaying injury concerns around Queensland captain Cameron Munster, who sat out Sunday’s training session. “He just had a bit of muscle tightness. He’s totally fine,” Slater joked. “As players get a little older toward the end of their careers, you need to adjust training loads to make sure you’re at your best on game day. We made the call to give him the session off to freshen up, he’ll train this afternoon, and he’s 100% good to go tomorrow night.”
Munster will partner rookie half Sam Walker, who makes his State of Origin debut in front of a projected 80,000 fans at the Sydney ground. Both Slater and Munster have encouraged the young playmaker to lean into his unique playing style instead of trying to emulate past Queensland halves.
“He’s such a one-of-a-kind player, and I’ve been so impressed by his skill level spending this week with him,” Slater said. “We all know how creative he is, and that impression has only gotten stronger this week. He’s a level-headed, quiet kid, and he’s handled his first Origin week really well. I can’t wait to see him get out there and show what he can do — that’s our whole goal for him this game.”
The entire rugby league community has rallied around Arrow since his diagnosis was announced, with messages of support pouring in from clubs, players and fans across the country ahead of the opening Origin match.