Jai Arrow reaches 100th Rabbitohs game amidst emotional tribute

Tears flowed as Jai Arrow made his 100th Rabbitohs appearance, with his Souths teammates helping crush the reserve team of their arch rivals, the Roosters.

Arrow choked back tears when he was hugged by Wayne Bennett as the forward was given a hero's reception at a sold out Sydney Football Stadium.

The 31-year-old father of one was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) this year and, until two weeks ago, was stranded on 98 NRL games for the Bunnies.

At Bennett's initiative, the NRL allowed Souths an extra interchange against the Gold Coast last week for game number 99 and again on Friday against the Roosters.

"It was pretty emotional," Cam Murray told Channel 9.

"I'm just so happy that everyone was able to get around him and he's been able to feel all the love.

"I know he really appreciates it and we love to see it.

"We all love him and happy he was able to notch up 100 games."

Arrow led his teammates out to the sound of the Gerry and the Pacemakers rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, with 14th Immortal and dual-club legend Ron Coote ringing the Rabbitohs' bell.

The former Queensland State of Origin forward was given a guard of honour by more than 100 Souths old boys, including members of the 2021 grand final squad Arrow was a member of and his family, who all sobbed along with him and plenty of others in the stands.

"It was emotional," Roosters captain Connor Watson said in his post-match press conference.

"It was very touching. Things like that are bigger than rugby league."

In the subsequent match, the Rabbitohs ran in 10 tries to pummel the Roosters 50-20, who had rested 10 of their star players with a top four spot secure.

But in completing the win, Souths have themselves earned a home finals spot, and will face Newcastle at either the Olympic Stadium or Sydney Football Stadium next week.

Campbell Graham scored twice for the Rabbitohs, who had nine different try scorers on the night, including Alex Johnston, who crossed for the 30th time this season.

Latrell Mitchell was one of them, scoring on his return to the starting line up while mixing his sublime skill with fearsome physicality, most notably when he flattened Toby Rodwell in the closing stages, standing over the stricken half like Mohammed Ali over Sonny Liston in their 1965 rematch.

If Mitchell's performance was heartening — a poor 5/10 kicking rate aside — Roosters firebrand Spencer Leniu will have raised concerns from coach Trent Robinson in the first half.

Leniu squared up to Keaon Koloamatangi after the Rabbitohs prop smashed him in a tackle twice in the same set, the second time tossing the ball away and giving away a penalty.

Titans fume over questionable calls

Earlier, the Dolphins hung on to beat the Titans 24-20 on the Gold Coast.

It was the Dolphins' seventh-consecutive win, but almost didn't happen as the Titans fought back late on and were unfortunate not to come away with the win.

The Titans were left fuming when, while leading 14-0, they had Keano Kini sin-binned in the 23rd minute for a very soft push on Dolphins winger Tevita Naufahu.

Josh Hannay was fuming after that call, and a trio of others in the closing minutes, went against his side.

"I thought it was incredibly harsh and not long after that they get a try from a knock-on," Hannay said.

"You talk about momentum swings — they don't get much bigger than that. Moe [Moeaki Fotuaika] got smacked in the face at the end and ends up in the bin for retaliating.

"[Jamayne Isaako] throws a leg out to trip [AJ Brimson] in the act of a potential try-scoring play and it is just a penalty.

"It was probably more sin-binnable than Keano's play.

"You stack all those things up and you lose by four points, you have got to be proud of your team's effort."