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Brisbane have been plunged into a bitter new row after the NRL approved an extraordinary plan allowing Jai Arrow to complete an emotional career milestone with South Sydney.
Arrow will be named in the Rabbitohs side to face his former club Gold Coast on Saturday despite medically retiring in May following a Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis.
The 31-year-old currently has 98 appearances for Souths. His brief return against the Titans will be his 99th before he reaches 100 against the Sydney Roosters in the final round.
Arrow will lead South Sydney onto the field and start both matches before being replaced within the opening seconds without becoming actively involved in play.
The NRL has granted the Rabbitohs permission to carry an additional player and use nine interchanges instead of eight. Arrow will remain on the bench in his playing kit after leaving the field.
The Titans, Roosters and Rugby League Players Association have all supported the arrangement, which will take Arrow to 180 career appearances.
Jai Arrow will make two emotional cameo appearances to reach 100 first-grade games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
Arrow will start against the Titans before leaving the field within the opening seconds of Saturday's match
Arrow was forced to medically retire in May after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease at age 31
An emotional Arrow was grateful for the chance to wear the famous cardinal and myrtle once again, while giving a heartbreaking update on his condition.
'I am progressing unfortunately and can't run anymore so I will be walking,' he said.
'I can't control my emotions, so I'm either going to cry my eyes out or laugh my head off.
'I get really stiff when I get embarrassed, so there might be a bit of a limp when I walk off but that's the disease and I'll be right.
'Anything that looks unnatural out there, blame MND.
'It's going to be a wild ride, but I wouldn't have it any other way.'
However, the announcement has also intensified anger surrounding Brisbane's refusal to give retiring captain Adam Reynolds a final appearance at Suncorp Stadium.
Supporters seized on the contrasting decisions after Reynolds revealed he wanted to face Melbourne on Thursday but had been overruled by coach Michael Maguire and the Broncos' medical staff.
Adam Reynolds was denied a final Suncorp Stadium appearance despite completing Brisbane's full training session on Monday
Reynolds believed he could play against Melbourne, but Michael Maguire and medical staff overruled the retiring captain
'Can't they do the same for Reynolds?' one fan asked.
'But they won't let Adam Reynolds play,' another posted with a laughing emoji.
'The Rabbits leading the way in honouring players. It's a pity the Brisbane Broncos have fell short again by not honouring Adam Reynolds in a similar way,' added another.
The circumstances are significantly different. Arrow's appearance will be a carefully controlled ceremonial cameo, while Reynolds hoped to play at least 20 minutes and potentially continue if his injured calf held together.
However, angry Broncos supporters questioned why the club could not develop its own limited role allowing the 323-game veteran to farewell Brisbane's members and fans.
Reynolds completed Monday's training session and believed he was fit enough to play. He was also reportedly open to starting from the interchange bench.
Medical staff remained concerned about his limited preparation and feared the lasting image of his decorated career could be the halfback being carried from the field.
On Tuesday, the two-time premiership said the situation had been 'blown out of proportion' and he had not made the retirement announcement under duress from Maguire or any other Broncos official.
Reynolds retires after 323 NRL matches, two premierships and 2598 points across his decorated 15-year career
Things have been taken out of proportion and I feel it's unfair to blame Madge,' he said.
'There's no better relationship in sport than myself and Madge. The time we've had across two clubs, the times on and off the field, I'd hate to see that friendship diminish.'
Ben Hunt revealed the Broncos playing group had expected Reynolds to return and was stunned when their captain announced his omission through the team's WhatsApp chat.
'We're all pretty shocked to be fair,' Hunt told 4BC.
'He wanted to get out there and from what I'm gauging most of the players are pretty disappointed too. We thought he deserved that send-off.'
Broncos great Gorden Tallis also said he would have selected Reynolds for one final appearance.
'If it was my decision, Adam Reynolds would wear that jersey and go out there and say goodbye to the Brisbane fans,' Tallis said.
Reynolds accepted the decision despite admitting he had been keen to play.
'I have to respect that. They put the person before the player and the care factor is there,' he said.
'There's no point dwelling on it now. It's the decision that has been made and I have to get on with life.'
Reynolds retires after 323 NRL matches, two premierships and 2,598 points. He will remain with Brisbane in 2027 as an adviser and mentor to the club's developing halves and hookers.
South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly said Arrow's appearances would help raise funds and awareness while ensuring MND did not prevent him from reaching the landmark.
'We believe this will provide great inspiration for everyone watching the game from the stadium or at home, showing that MND will not hold Jai, or anyone else, back from achieving what they want to achieve in life,' Solly said.
