Former NRL player Jai Arrow and partner Berina have secretly tied the knot just months after he announced his retirement following his devastating MND diagnosis.

The happy couple posted a series of photos on Instagram of their elopement, which appeared to be at the courthouse outside Martin Place in Sydney over the weekend.

Daughter Ayla was involved in the small ceremony, as well as another couple for witnessing the “special” moment.

“We did a thing 💍! Don’t know how Italy will top this one but we can’t wait to celebrate with all our family and friends 🫶,” the couple wrote in a joint post on Instagram.

“An extra special thank you to our family friends The Beath’s for witnessing our special day and watching our little angel.

“I am in awe of how amazing people are. Thank you to Maddi, Lucy, Jazz, and everyone who gave their time to make this elopement a very extra special one.”

The couple got engaged in late 2024 in Italy before welcoming their daughter Ayla into the world last year.

Arrow announced his heartbreaking retirement in May after revealing his devastating MND diagnosis.

The NRL community has rallied around the 30-year-old and his family since the diagnosis.

Former teammate Tevita Tatola was delighted for Arrow’s marriage, despite joking he wanted an invite.

“I just thought we’d get invited,” he said with a grin.

“He looked really happy, and yeah, it’s just awesome news, the team was really happy for him.”

The eighth-placed Rabbitohs face fourth-placed Newcastle on Sunday in a litmus test of their top-eight credentials.

The match also happens to fall on Arrow’s 31st birthday.

The NRL is planning to throw what they’ve billed as the “world’s biggest birthday party” for Arrow, complete with a world record attempt for most party hats.

The game will also feature a halftime performance from the Wiggles, a giant birthday cake and the unveiling of four new mascots, along with sponsor donations for every try scored during the game and throughout the month - dubbed “Jai July”.

“There’s no one more deserving”, Rabbitohs centre Jack Wighton said on Tuesday.

Players from all teams are being urged to pull a bow-and-arrow celebration on the try line to honour Jai’s fight against MND.

Wighton said the respect had spread far beyond first-grade footy.

“Over the weekend there’s been kids, videos doing arrow for him from five years old ... even in my son’s game for the weekend”, Wighton said

“Seeing everybody get behind it ... just shows what the footy community is about.”

At NRL level, the vast majority of Round 18 try-scorers celebrated by saluting Arrow.

“Sunday arvo game, it’ll be a cracker day, and hopefully we can get a lot of people out there to celebrate Jai’s birthday”, Tatola said.

— With AAP