Arrow response showed the one value that truly unites rugby league’s dysfunctional family

May 25, 2026 — 5:30pm

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From the outside, the NRL often resembles an outsized dysfunctional family, complete with prodigal sons, mysterious rich uncles, little dictators, wayward hangers-on, estranged step-siblings and warring in-laws.

There’s a general common purpose but endless bickering and rivalry about how to get there, jealousy, secrecy and shifting alliances.

Like such families, rugby league also has an underlying unity in the face of a real crisis, and the best side of the rugby league family has been brought out by the response to Jai Arrow’s diagnosis with motor neurone disease.

To see the emotion and care coming out of players and officials when sending Arrow their messages, the $50,000 raised in one afternoon by Cowboys fans, and many other actions is to see how, while the politics and hostility dominate the everyday news, the fundamental shared value is love.

Never mind the quality, feel the grit

Five tough, gritty games over the weekend, no blowouts. Maybe the world hasn’t come to an end.

There was no discernible change in the way the games were refereed, with the usual penalties and six-agains as........

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