Jai Arrow’s birthday bash at Accor Stadium was celebrated in style as the Rabbitohs stunned the Knights 26-24.
There was a real party atmosphere around the stadium as the Souths celebrated with the ‘world’s biggest birthday party’ for the 31-year-old.
Red-and-green party hats were scattered throughout the crowd of 30,113, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese watched on as Arrow cut a giant birthday cake at halftime.
And at full-time there was a full scale pitch invasion as thousands of fans joined Arrow on the field to celebrate their win.
The ex-Rabbitoh was forced to retire when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease but that hasn’t stopped him being an active member of the rugby league world.
Ahead of the State of Origin decider, Arrow was given the duty of carrying out the shield ahead of kick-off, something he did with great pride.
Jai Arrow was mobbed by fans as South Sydney Rabbitohs threw a birthday bash for their ex-player
The 31-year-old was presented with a giant cake as part of the birthday celebrations
He also received a gift of a Brisbane Broncos and Rabbitohs jersey stitched together
There was also the familiar sight of the bow and arrow celebration, like the one from Mark Fifita here
And thanks to a gritty victory by his former side, the party was able to continue long after the final whistle.
His former teammates serenaded Arrow with a rendition of Happy Birthday after they consolidated their place in the top eight.
Captain Cameron Murray was pleased the Rabbitohs could focus on the game, and then the post-match celebrations with their former teammate.
‘We know how much (Arrow) means to us, and all the boys know how much he’s given to all of us in that change room,’ Murray said.
‘We don’t speak about it too much, but he’s always in the back of our mind.
‘But at the end of the day, we’re out there and we have to turn up and perform to the game plan that we practise.’
Players also celebrated their trys with the familiar arrow celebration in tribute to the stricken star.
The NRL world has really thrown its support behind Arrow since he received the heartbreaking diagnosis.
And the Rabbitohs have been going above and beyond everyone else as one would expect.
But no one could have anticipated Jai July being the celebration of Arrow that it has been.
South Sydney will be hoping they are able to continue generating these magic moments with their former player.
As the season enters the final stretch, all the love and support around the ground is clear to see and they have the opportunity to do something special.
As they did here, when the inspired Rabbitohs snapped a 10-game losing streak in matches played without Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell.
Souths needed to overcome the loss of rookie winger Dayne Jennings (knee), five-eighth Jayden Sullivan (concussion) and back-rower Euan Aitken, who underwent an ECG after struggling for breath during the first half.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett confirmed Aitken had battled a virus during the week and was in good shape after fulltime.
