Broncos star Jesse Arthars’ heartbreaking tattoo tribute to mum

On the cusp of a State of Origin debut and wearing the famous Broncos No.1 jersey this weekend, Brisbane star Jesse Arthars opens up on the growing number of tattoos he’s gotten as a tribute to his mum, Jane.

Jesse Arthars has enough tattoos to get a start on Miami Ink.

But it’s his first piece of artwork, a tribute to his late mother, that is the driving force behind a rise that has the Brisbane star on the cusp of a State of Origin debut.

Arthars has opened up on the tragic passing of his mum Jane as he prepares to cap a whirlwind period by wearing the famous Broncos No.1 jumper in Saturday night’s clash against Manly in Sydney.

When Arthars was a shock selection in Queensland’s Origin squad as 19th man last Monday week, the first phone call was to his dad Jason.

Jesse Arthars’ tattoos. Picture: Instagram / @brisbanebroncos

But he only wished he could have heard the joy in his mum Jane’s voice.

The 26-year-old could now match Angry Anderson in the tattoo department but eight years ago, he was a total cleanskin when Jane was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Sadly, she lost her brave battle 12 months later, prompting Arthars to seek out an everlasting image of his mother.

Amid the tears, the ordeal has given him the strength to back himself in his surge to Queensland’s extended Origin squad and the apex of Brisbane’s tryscoring list this season.

“The first thing dad said was, ‘You know your mother would be stoked, she’d be over the moon for you’,” Arthars said of his Maroons call-up.

“I’ve got a lot of family tattoos, but the one of my mum, that was my first ever tattoo.

“I got that in 2019, I actually got it in Barcelona so it was a bit off the cuff. My mum means a lot to me, so that one of her will always be my favourite one.

“Every time I get them it’s like, ‘No, I’m not getting another one’ … I don’t know if I can handle the pain anymore.

“The pain’s unbearable.”

Arthars was 18th man in Maroons camp. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The pain of Jane’s passing will always linger but Arthars walking into Camp Maroon last week was a tribute to all her years of sacrifice to ensure her son lived out his NRL dreams.

“She used to take me to all the games,” he said.

“I remember I came to an Origin camp, I was about 17 and she was just there supporting me. I had to do a trial against a Maroons squad back in 2016 and mum was the one who took me.

“She’s always been by my side with footy, then she passed away. She’s not here anymore but she’d be super proud up there that I’m part of the Queensland squad.”

Born in Auckland, Arthars moved to the Gold Coast at age 11, qualifying him for the Maroons, and he has been Brisbane’s best player this season alongside Payne Haas with 11 tries from as many games.

Underlining his ultra consistency over his past 50 games for Brisbane, Manly launched a poaching bid in 2023, only for Arthars to stay loyal by inking a new three-year deal.

Now, in the absence of injured fullback Reece Walsh, Arthars faces the Sea Eagles wearing the No.1 jumper as Brisbane coach Michael Maguire searches for ways to ignite the Broncos’ attack.

Arthars has been shifted to fullback by Michael Maguire. Picture: Adam Head

“Jesse has played fullback before,” Broncos teammate Cory Paix said.

“He is a competitor and spent a week with the Maroons with heaps of learnings with Kalyn Ponga and Billy Slater the coach.

“I’m sure he will come back and do a really good job.”

The Broncos are under pressure after five losses from six starts but Arthars dismissed suggestions Brisbane players are burnt out under Maguire.

“No, I don’t think the boys are tired,” he said.

“We just need to stick together.

“Obviously we haven’t been playing the footy that we want and getting the results, but we need to keep a positive attitude going into the next couple of games.

“It was a good time for us to have a bye week, so we’ll come back in with a fresh mind and stay connected as a group.”

Originally published as Broncos star Jesse Arthars’ heartbreaking tattoo tribute to mum