Fans in New Zealand expressed outrage when Sky Sport NZ aired advertisements just before a significant moment for Jai Arrow during a recent NRL match. Arrow, who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), marked his 100th game with the South Sydney Rabbitohs against the Sydney Roosters.
Due to his illness, Arrow had to retire after playing 98 games for the Rabbitohs. Coach Wayne Bennett sought permission for Arrow to achieve this milestone, allowing him to lead the team onto the field at Allianz Stadium. The moment drew attention as players from both teams momentarily set aside their competitive spirit to support Arrow, leading to an emotional scene when he hugged Bennett and broke down in tears.
New Zealand viewers, however, missed this pivotal event. Sky NZ cut to a gambling advertisement for Betcha just before Arrow's entrance, inciting outrage among fans. One viewer shared, "This was supposed to be a special moment to remember my wife... but we had to watch a betting advert."
A representative from Sky NZ attributed the advertisement to a scheduling error and expressed regret for the oversight, stating, "We apologise to fans who missed part of Jai Arrow's post-match celebration." The Rabbitohs celebrated Arrow's milestone with a decisive 50-20 victory over a weakened Roosters team, securing a home elimination final next week.
Souths' win was highlighted by David Fifita's opening score in his 150th game and Alex Johnston's impressive tally of 30 tries for the season. Latrell Mitchell also stood out with one try and three assists, further punishing the Roosters, who rested 10 players for the upcoming finals.