NRL latest: Jai Arrow guard of honour after MND diagnosis, Rabbitohs beat Broncos 48-6

This is where we close the blog tonight.

The Rabbitohs defeated the Broncos 48-6.

But the fallout from what happened on the footy field can wait; tonight was about Jai Arrow.

A young man, who like too many in our community, has been diagnosed with Motor neurone disease (MND).

This is an awful reality that Jai and his family are in, like many other families across Australia.

Tonight, there was an outpouring of love and support for a man who was rightfully celebrated for his achievements on the football field.

It was hard not to be emotional watching him, with his one-year-old daughter, walk through that guard of honour and ring the Legacy Bell.

This blogger needed a tissue as he updated you on the action at Stadium Australia.

One can hope the community support shown to Jai, just like the support that was shown to the great Neale Daniher for so many years, will continue to raise awareness and research that, in turn, helps all other families that are going through an equally difficult time.

Brisbane have lost six straight matches after tonight's 48-6 thumping to South Sydney.

Ben Hunt has spoken to the Nine Network after the loss.

It's a tough one.

It doesn't matter what we seem to do at the moment, we just keep hurting ourselves.

I thought we started alright, but after about 20 minutes we just fell in a hole, made a few errors, and Souths are a damn good side and they made us pay.

Here are the rest of the matches to be played this weekend.

The NRL's all-time leading try-scorer, Alex Johnston, added four more to his record tonight in South Sydney's 48-6 win over the Brisbane Broncos.

But tonight was about Jai Arrow, who was given an emotional guard of honour before kick-off.

Speaking with ABC Sport, Johnston said Souths were determined to snap their three-match losing streak tonight for their mate.

I think it was just the occasion, you know.

Obviously, the jerseys we're wearing, the week that it was, We really wanted to perform tonight.

When he's about to ring a bell, he starts going with tears. We're about to play a game, and we're trying not to cry.

A big win for a special bloke. What a teammate he is, and stoked that we've got a result tonight for him.

— reporting by AAP

Brisbane's premiership defence hangs by a thread after they were handed a sixth-straight NRL defeat in a 48-6 thrashing at the hands of South Sydney.

Five-eighth Cody Walker was the mastermind behind the Bunnies' victory on Thursday night as Wayne Bennett's side (7-6) strengthened their bid for a top-eight spot.

Walker had four try-assists and Alex Johnston grabbed a quartet of tries as Souths snapped a three-game winless run.

But the story of the night will be Brisbane's nosediving form as they returned to Stadium Australia for the first time since coach Michael Maguire engineered a drought-breaking premiership win nine months ago.

The Broncos began their losing run with defeats to top-four contenders in the Sydney Roosters, Manly and the Warriors.

But the last three weeks, where Maguire's men have been beaten by wooden spoon favourites St George Illawarra, struggling Gold Coast and an injury-depleted Rabbitohs side, have highlighted how far Brisbane have fallen.

On an emotional night, where both clubs united to celebrate the life of Jai Arrow following his diagnosis with motor neurone disease, Souths raced out to a 12-0 lead when wingers Ed Kosi and Johnston scored in back-to-back sets.

Walker then sent a rampaging David Fifita over from close range before Johnston dived in for a second.

Souths constructed the try of the night when halfback Ashton Ward chipped over the Brisbane line for Walker, who tipped on for Jamie Humphreys to score and give the Bunnies a 30-0 half-time lead.

Josiah Karapani finally got the away side on the board in the 52nd minute, but there was no sense of fightback brewing.

Nothing summed up the Broncos' night more than Ben Hunt passing the ball into the back of Preston Riki when the forward was looking towards his own tryline shortly before Mam and Reynolds went off.

Johnston crossed two more times in the final 20 minutes, while debutant John Radel also touched down to help Souths run up a big score.

It's just not good enough from the Brisbane Broncos.

Souths make a break down the right wing to put the Broncos on the back foot.

Then a grubber kick to the in-goal is missed by Jordan Riki (Broncos) and Jayden Sullivan (Rabbitohs), and Alex Johnston is there to score one of the easiest tries of his career.

Rabbitohs 48

Broncos 6

What a great moment for South Sydney's John Radel.

On his NRL debut, he has scored a try.

It was easy for Radel, he was in support of Jayden Sullivan who made a great line break to set up the try.

Rabbitohs 42

Broncos 6

South Sydney's Alex Johnston has a hat-trick.

With a full set at the Brisbane goal-line, after Xavier Willison dropped an attacking kick, the Rabbitohs shift to the left and Johnston scores in the corner.

Rabbitohs 36

Broncos 6

Ezra Mam has come from the field and gone up the tunnel.

This means Mam and Adam Reynolds have limped off in a matter of minutes.

Brisbane has come so, so close to scoring.

Grant Anderson was being tackled, but reached out to the goal-line.

Anderson grounded the footy just millimetres short of the line.

Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds is off the field.

Tom Duffy is on.

Adam Reynolds is getting treatment from the trainer.

It's unclear if he has cramp or a hamstring issue.

He took a run and was tackled, and has been limping since.

Ezra Mam has kept Brisbane's hopes of a miracle alive for a couple of more minutes.

Souths right winger Edward Kosi dives for the line, but Mam comes across in cover and forces the ball loose.

It is a great try-saving tackle.

Rabbitohs 30

Broncos 6

Brendan Piakura takes a run, and drops the ball.

It is Brisbane's 10th error.

Souths have another chance to attack.

Rabbitohs 30

Broncos 6

The Brisbane Broncos are on the board.

It follows a Souths kick that went out on the full. Souths have been sloppy to start this second half.

Brisbane march down field. Close to the goal-line, following an Ezra Mam line break, Brisbane go to the short-side and left winger Josiah Karapani scores.

Adam Reynolds successfully kicks the conversion from the left touchline.

Rabbitohs 30

Broncos 6

We will keep an eye on Jordan Riki, who does not look comfortable with a lower leg issue.

Rabbitohs 30

Broncos 0

A mistake from the Rabbitohs — Tallis Duncan was tackled over the touchline — gave the Broncos the ball at midfield.

The Broncos march down the field well, and go close to scoring.

It was the final play and Ezra Mam stepped through a fractured defensive line.

Souths fullback Jye Gray makes a great tackle around the legs to stop Mam in his tracks, two metres from the goal-line.

Rabbitohs 30

Broncos 0

The Brisbane Broncos will need to produce the largest comeback in NRL history to avoid a sixth-straight loss.

South Sydney holds a 30-0 lead after an excellent first half.