Arrow straight: I didn't think I'd get through the season

He may be chalking up big minutes and bagging tries for the Rabbitohs now, but Jai Arrow admits that when he first returned from a shoulder injury he had serious doubts about getting through the season.

As he prepares for career game No.150 at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday, the 28-year-old said his shoulder is 'heaps better than I thought it would be' after some concerning moments on the comeback trail.

Arrow damaged his rotator cuff in the opening round loss to Manly in Las Vegas, Arrow spent a frustrating five games on the sideline before easing his way back in with 27 minutes off the bench in the Round 8 loss to the Storm.

He dialled up his game time to 70 minutes a week later against the Panthers, taking 12 hit-ups and making 38 tackles in a serious examination of his shoulder.

"I remember coming off after my second game back against Penrith and saying to our physios, ‘you blokes are kidding yourselves, there’s no chance I’m going to last out the year'," Arrow said.

"But as time has gone on, it's so much better. I am finding a lot more confidence as the weeks go on and I'm just excited to be out there playing footy and whenever they want to pull the pin on me, they will do so."

After further losses to the Dragons in Round 10 and Cowboys in Round 11, Arrow savoured his first win since Round 24 last year when the Rabbitohs took care of the Eels a fortnight ago.

Among a host of solid performers, Arrow ran for 112 metres, busted five tackles and helped himself to a rare four-pointer in the morale boosting 42-26 victory.

"I have reached double digits [for tries in my career] which I’m glad about so now I can retire a happy man," Arrow said.

"It took us a bit longer than expected to get another win but I thought it was pretty convincing in the end, we played some really good footy.

"Keaon [Koloamatangi] had a great game in the middle and he's probably found a home there.

"He'd probably tell you he's filthy about playing there but that's what happens when you run for over 200 metres and score two tries and make 30-plus tackles, so let's look he'll be stuck in the middle for the rest of the year."

Still sitting in last place despite the victory, the Rabbitohs head to the Gold Coast to try and build some momentum and make Arrow's milestone game one to remember.

After making his debut as a raw 20-year-old at the Broncos, the 12-time Maroons Origin rep spent three seasons at the Titans and is now in his fourth season at Redfern.

The road to 150 games hasn't always been smooth for Arrow, with an ankle injury suffered against the Titans costing him four games in the second half of 2023 before the shoulder injury in Vegas set him back again.

"It's pretty weird to think back now, 149 games ago, I was a 20-year-old and it was pretty surreal running out in the NRL," Arrow said.

"Now it’s just the norm to go out and play each week with a great bunch of boys.

"From a Gold Coast boy who never thought he’d leave the state of Queensland, I have made a home here in Sydney and I love it down here.

"It's pretty weird how things work out that get to go back to my home town for my 150th game, so just glad I’m still here playing footy.

"It will be good to see my mum, I don’t see her too often, and they've had some shirts made for the 150th. I'm looking forward to seeing my mug on a shirt."