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News.com.au
9 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Debate erupts as Rabbitohs gun explains ‘hissy fit' storm off footage
What's sport without emotion? A bit of tears, laughs, and everything in between came out of Craig Bellamy and Jai Arrow in Saturday's nailbiting golden point finish against the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Emotions certainly got the better of both player and coach, but in surprising ways. In a game dominated by Melbourne against a South's side decimated by injuries, the purple outfit found themselves against a tougher than expected opponent in the Bunnies who kept in the fight. Up by an unconverted try and with four minutes remaining coach Bellamy was captured absolutely fuming as he vehemently barked orders through a walkie talkie after an uncharacteristic Melbourne error, before the Bunnies evened up the score in the following set to 24-24 South Sydney star Arrow was then instrumental in keeping his side in the game with a try saving tackle in the corner on Grant Anderson that kept the scores levelled with a minute to play. The move gave Latrell Mitchell the chance to almost recreate his field goal heroics from his team's win over the Broncos this year, but this time he narrowly missed the 45m shot right at the death in regular time. Melbourne instead were the side to take the two points as Ryan Papenhuyzen iced a field goal from 17m out in extra time as the game finished 25-24. But it was the post match reactions of Arrow and Bellamy that got fans talking. While his teammates shook hands with the their opponents, a dejected Arrow, clearly frustrated with the unfortunate loss, instead marched straight off the field, kicking over a bench seat before heading up the Accor Stadium tunnel. Appearing the next night on Sunday night with Matty Johns, the star Souths prop admitted emotions got the better of him. 'I had a bit of a hissy fit, obviously fairly disappointed with the result and I stormed off the field unfortunately. I walked straight into the sheds, grabbed a beer and went home ... it's all you can do after a loss,' he said on the panel. Brian Fletcher responded to Arrow's explanation by saying: 'I respect that'. According to Code Sports, however, Arrow also kicked over a bench seat before heading up the tunnel to the dressing room. As shocking as it was to see a player not shake hands with the opponent, Bellamy was caught in an even rarer act after the whistle. The storm coach could be seen with his arms in the air and a wide grin on his face after a fan sitting directly in front of his coaching box looked towards him and gave two thumbs up. Only weeks ago Melbourne hooker Harry Grant tried to persuade Bellamy to crack a smile in a cheeky gesture as his side were up 64-0 against the Tigers, but on this occasion the fan was finally successful in giving rugby league fans a sight they never thought they'd see. 'You can win by 40 and get sprayed by Craig so you can imagine how happy he was with us,' forward Josh King said after the golden point win. Oh Bellyache. Arrow's antics were also the second time this season the player had an emotional response, after a fiery sideline altercation with a Bulldogs fan in the tradition Good Friday clash.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Time for me to grow up': South Sydney's unlikely duo dominating in the middle and pushing for Origin recalls
A pre-season health kick and an honest chat with Wayne Bennett have helped turn two of South Sydney's most experienced players into a dynamic duo in the middle who have their eyes on taking down another couple of star props. Keaon Koloamatangi has spoken extensively this year about his sacrifices over summer that helped him lose a stack of weight, while Jai Arrow was told by Bennett that it was time for him to grow up as a leader. Both of them started the year well on the edge, with the pair playing the first seven games together in the back row. But injuries and poor form around them forced Bennett's hand, with Koloamatangi and Arrow both starting in the front row in each of their past two games, with the Rabbitohs picking up two crucial wins before their bye. Arrow has been as solid as ever, but Koloamatangi has been in career-best form with 50 runs, 462m and 83 tackles in wins over the Broncos and Wests Tigers. To put that in perspective, he had only run for 100m in three of the first nine games of the season. 'I'll leave that to other people (to say whether this is the best I've ever played) but I just try to do my job for the team,' he said. 'Whatever position I play, I just want to win the two points. 'Because of all the injuries, Wayne just said that he needed a bigger body up front. I've played middle my whole career, so it's not unfamiliar for me. 'It was an easy transition, so I didn't even have to think about it. I just did what Wayne wants because he's the coach. 'I get pretty tired through it, but I had a big pre-season and I focused on my fitness and my body. 'I also focused on my mind, and my mind is in a really good space, so I know I can play 80 in any position. I get confidence from Wayne believing in me, and that allows me to play 80 minutes.' Koloamatangi may still see himself as an edge forward, but his future lies in the middle where he's set to partner Arrow, who has always played his best footy closer to the action. Arrow, 29, is in his fifth season at the club and was told by Bennett at the start of the year that he had to step up with Tom Burgess moving on and skipper Cam Murray going down injured. 'When Wayne first came back, he put a bit of ownership on me and put me in the leadership group. He told me it was time for me to grow up,' he said. 'I've tried to realistically play my role and help out where I've needed to help out to lead by example for the young boys coming through. 'He said that a long time ago, but as I'm starting to get a bit older, I know that I've got to stand up and play my role for the team. 'I've had a bit more of a voice this year than I have in past years because we lost a fair few leaders in this side.' The pair have taken down Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, and Terrell May in recent weeks, with the South Sydney stars set to come up against Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris on Sunday in another heavyweight bout. 'I think if you're the starting front row in any team, you've got to take that role by the horns,' Koloamatangi said. 'Me and Jai aren't the biggest front-row duo, but the main thing we can do is put in effort and do our job for the team.' Another couple of big performances could earn Koloamatangi a State of Origin recall, although the competition's in-form forward revealed he and NSW coach Laurie Daley hadn't spoken. 'I didn't hear from him,' he said. 'Obviously, I want to play, but that wasn't on my mind. 'I didn't have the best start to the year that I wish I could, but you never know what will happen. Everything happens for a reason. I'll just keep playing well for the Bunnies and whatever happens, happens.'
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘He's the best player in the comp': Souths teammates back Latrell Mitchell to dominate big moments in Origin return
Latrell Mitchell might not be talking to journalists leading into the State of Origin series opener, but his South Sydney teammates are more than happy to talk him up, including former Maroons forward Jai Arrow, who hopes the Blues star plays well but not too well on Wednesday night. Mitchell will start at left centre at Suncorp Stadium and is likely to take on Maroons rookie Robert Toia, with the South Sydney fullback set to play just his second Origin match since the start of the 2022 season. Injuries have kept him out in the past, but he's ready to make up for lost time after starring in his lone appearance in last year's series. There are few players who dominate the headlines quite like Mitchell, with his long-range field goal against the Broncos a few weeks ago showing his willingness to step up in the big moments as well as his ability to nail the clutch plays. 'You know how he is, he's the best player in the comp,' Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi said. 'I love playing alongside him and I'm sure he'll give the Maroons some troubles. 'He's different (in Origin). I've never had the chance to play alongside him in Origin, but he's a big-time player who loves big games and big crowds.' Arrow will be cheering on Mitchell as a Rabbitohs teammate, but there'll be a part of him that hopes he doesn't go too well given he played 12 games for Queensland. 'Origin is one of those things where you hate each other for three days of the year, but as a teammate, I'm glad that Latrell gets his opportunity to play again,' he said. 'He's a big-game player and I'm sure he'll play well, but I hope he doesn't play too well. 'He's just fairly unstructured and he's a guy who lives in the moment. If something needs to be done in a big moment, he grabs it with his two hands and takes it on. 'He's not afraid to chance his arm, and that's why he's on the big bucks. When the big moment comes, he's always the one who stands up. He loves those big plays.' Mitchell won't be playing in the spine but that won't stop him from dominating the contest, with the 27-year-old going to new heights when he plays for the Blues. 'He's made for that arena and he's made for the big moments,' Rabbitohs halfback Jamie Humphreys said. 'You look back at that Broncos game a few weeks ago and he was the guy who got us over the line. 'I have no doubt he'll have those intentions going into Origin.' Mitchell is a chance to back up on Sunday against the Warriors, but the Rabbitohs will still be missing a few stars with Cody Walker (calf), Jack Wighton (calf) and Tyrone Munro (collarbone) at least another week away. 'I'm pretty sure Jack and Cody could be right for Canberra,' Arrow said, with the Rabbitohs taking on the Raiders in round 14.
