Jai Arrow involved in altercation with Bulldogs fans as Canterbury win 32-0 over Rabbitohs

South Sydney star Jai Arrow has allegedly been involved in an altercation with Bulldogs fans, as Canterbury blew the Rabbitohs away in a record breaking Good Friday clash.

South Sydney superstar Jai Arrow has claimed “passion got the better of me” following a verbal altercation with Canterbury supporters at Accor Stadium in the dying moments of the Rabbitohs’ lopsided 32-0 defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs on Good Friday.

Arrow took offence to comments from a Bulldogs supporter sitting in the stands behind the Rabbitohs bench late in the match, which the Bulldogs won 32-0.

Arrow approached the fan before Souths officials including assistant coach John Sutton intervened to calm down the situation.

Police also spoke to the fan involved before allowing him to return to his seat. Vision later emerged of an enraged Arrow remonstrating while the fan blows him kisses and makes heart shapes with his hands.

The incident came at the end of a difficult day for Arrow and the Rabbitohs, who were blown out of the water by the Bulldogs before a crowd of 65,305 people at Accor Stadium.

Arrow told this masthead he lost his cool after the Rabbitohs were comprehensively beaten.

“Nothing to explain really,” Arrow said of the incident via text message.

“Passion got the better of me.

“(There was) nothing in it.”

Jai Arrow. Picture: NRL Imagery

Arrow’s teammate Lewis Dodd, who made his NRL debut, admitted he was on the end of some torrid abuse as well, while he waited on the interchange bench for a taste of the action.

“I don’t think I can say it on air to be honest.,” Dodd said when asked what was said to him.

“That is part of the game — there wasn’t any malice in it. I would like to think if there was a Bulldogs player sitting in front of a Souths fan he would be doing the same thing.

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

Souths officials managed to calm down the situation before it escalated into something more serious. They weren’t happy though, with Sutton gesturing at the fan who had targeted Arrow.

The Bulldogs fans in attendance had an afternoon to remember as they witnessed another master class from coach Cameron Ciraldo’s outfit, who continued their undefeated start to the year.

If they can maintain this form, the Bulldogs may play before a full house here in early October. They are certainly going to take some stopping based on their form over the opening seven weeks of this season.

Front rower Joshua Curran stole the show for the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

Souths, under the tutelage of Wayne Bennett, are no easybeats. Yet they were bustled into errors and ill-discipline by the relentless Bulldogs. They had no answer and the Bulldogs fans loved it.

Many of the Bulldogs fans had started the day forming a guard of honour for the players as they made their way from their nearby hotel to the NSW Blues Centre of Excellence, which sits adjacent to Accor Stadium.

The players lapped it up. The walk took about 15 minutes and it helped prepare them for what was lying in wait when they finally arrived at the ground and ran out to a raucous reception.

The din never died down. The Bulldogs took control of this game in the first half with the sort of performance that is becoming all too familiar.

They didn’t give Souths room to breathe. Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell was bustled into error. His teammates followed suit.

This fixture broke the record for a regular season crowd, with over 65,305 fans in attendance. Picture: Getty Images

Their day was best summed up early in the second half when Jack Wighton received the ball, ran around like a chook with his head cut off and promptly lost it in the tackle of Viliame Kikau.

Moments later Euan Aitken was penalised for a hip drop that wasn’t a hip drop and the Rabbitohs frustration was beginning to grow.

With 20 minutes or so left in the game, Bennett gave Cody Walker an early marker and Dodd was given his first taste of the NRL.

Some introduction. At that point, the Bulldogs were leading 26-0 and the Rabbitohs had their finger in the dyke. They were barely holding on as the Bulldogs laid siege to their tryline.

This was a statement game for Canterbury. If they are to win a premiership, they need to stand up on days like this. The crowd was huge, the atmosphere was seething and opposition was littered with class.

They did more than just stand up. They towered over their opponents. Sure, sterner tests will follow – the Bulldogs face Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium next week in a game that may yet be a grand final preview.

They avoid premiership favourites the Storm until round 25 and by then, both sides should have finals spots well and truly locked up. Bulldogs fans are daring to dream. Who can blame them after days like this.

Originally published as Jai Arrow involved in altercation with Bulldogs fans as Canterbury win 32-0 over Rabbitohs