Jai Arrow explains heated sideline altercation as fresh details of Bulldogs fan’s behaviour emerge

Souths star Jai Arrow has explained why he lost his cool at a rowdy Bulldogs fan during the Rabbitohs’ embarrassing 32-0 defeat on Good Friday.

Jai Arrow has admitted he lost his cool in a fiery sideline altercation with a Bulldogs fan during Souths’ embarrassing 32-0 loss to Canterbury on Good Friday.

Arrow had to be held back by Rabbitohs staff members during the verbal tirade with Bulldogs supporters as the backrower was substituted off in the 65th minute at Accor Stadium.

The 29-year-old had a game to forget, with a couple of defensive errors costing his side and he also was involved in a couple of heated moments on the field, namely with fellow backrower Viliame Kikau.

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And a frustrated Arrow finally snapped when Dogs fans, who had heckled him and his teammates throughout, said something that got under his skin.

Arrow walked towards the fan before officials from South Sydney managed to quell the situation.

In a video posted on the social media platform X by Canterbury fan account Bulldogs Kennel, Arrow is shown arguing with a fan wearing a Bulldogs jersey seated a few rows behind the Bunnies’ bench.

Police soon intervened and approached one fan, who was called out by Arrow.

But after the Dogs supporter claimed all he did was make a love heart gesture, he was allowed to remain.

Arrow told the media following the game: “It’s all good, mate, there is nothing in it. Passion got the better of me.”

Jai Arrow explained his heated exchange with a Bulldogs fan. Image: X/Getty

That area of the crowd was reportedly extra rowdy, with Rabbitohs half Lewis Dodd – who spent the first 60 minutes of the match on the bench – claiming he was subjected to abuse throughout by the section of Bulldogs fans.

“I don’t think I can say (what the Bulldogs fans were saying) to be honest,” Dodd replied to the question about what Canterbury fans were saying.

“That’s part of the game and when I ran out for the warm-up, I have never experienced anything like that.”

While witnesses on the sidelines at Accor Stadium described the scenes as confronting and highly emotional and some even reported that a Bulldogs fan had thrown a projectile at Arrow.

It was scenes that Aaron Woods described on Triple M as “terrible”.

“You can’t be throwing stuff from the crowd, that’s terrible,” Woods said.

“Jai Arrow has had to be held back by South Sydney, John Sutton’s involved, this is real drama on the sideline.”

Jai Arrow admitted his emotions got the best of him. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

However, speaking on Fox Sports, former Bulldogs skipper James Graham pinned the blame on Arrow, saying he needs to be the “better person” in that situation.

“Obviously he’s a passionate individual, his team has just been beaten 32-0,” Graham said.

“I can understand how and why he’d react but at the end of the day, you’ve just got to put your head down and cop your medicine because it’s their day in the sun.

“The Bulldogs have won and their fans are going to let you know all about it.

“As difficult as it is, and I know I would show a lack of restraint, but we don’t know what’s happened here.

“As long as it’s all fair game and it’s all fair, Jai should be the ‘better person’ and cop that.”

Originally published as Jai Arrow explains heated sideline altercation as fresh details of Bulldogs fan’s behaviour emerge