Rugby league fans are fuming after Sky Sport cut to a betting advertisement just as Jai Arrow was due to walk onto the field for his 100th game for the Rabbitohs.
By Soumya Bhamidipati of RNZ
The 31-year-old retired from rugby league earlier this year - just two games shy of his hundredth match - as he battles motor neurone disease.
Following his diagnosis, the NRL approved a special one-off rule change that would allow Arrow to reach the milestone with his former club; being named as an additional player on the team list and interchange rotation.
New Zealand audiences missed the emotional walk-on as, instead, an ad for Betcha began to roll.
Their screens returned to the pitch right on the kick-off whistle.
Livid fans posted on social media, calling the move "unbelievable", "disgusting" and "disrespectful".
"My wife died of motor neurone disease and tonight I sat with my two children to watch Jai Arrow in his 100th game walking on to the field. This was suppose to be a special moment to remember my wife and their mum, but we had to watch a betting advert. I am hopeful that Sky tv issues an apology to Jai Arrow and MND New Zealand, and to my devastated children. I am so very disappointed," one person wrote.
Others threatened to cancel their subscriptions to Sky and their Betcha accounts.
In a statement, a Sky spokesperson said the ad break was due to a scheduling error.
"We apologise to fans who missed part of Jai Arrow's post-match celebration during our coverage and share their disappointment," they said.
"We know how important this moment was to fans, and we regret that the full celebration wasn't shown live.
"To ensure fans can enjoy the moment as it happened, we have shared the full celebration across our social media channels and will also make it available to watch on demand."
RNZ has also approached Betcha for comment.
Arrow's exemption saw him lead the Rabbitohs onto the field at Cbus Super Stadium for his 99th game last weekend, arm-in-arm with teammate Cody Walker, and greeted by a standing ovation.
He was then taken off three seconds after kick-off against the Gold Coast Titans - despite jokingly trying to wave off the call from Rabbitohs co-captain Cameron Murray. He was permitted to remain on the bench in his playing kit for the remainder of the match.
Prior to the game, footage from the changing sheds showed veteran coach Wayne Bennett helping Arrow pull up his socks on and lace his boots.
Before medically retiring at the start of the year, Arrow played 178 NRL matches. His first-grade career started in 2016 with 24 games across two seasons for the Brisbane Broncos, followed by 56 games for the Gold Coast Titans, then finally 98 games for South Sydney from 2021 - 2025.
He becomes just the 67th player to reach 100 games for the Rabbitohs in its 118-year history.
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