Former NRL star Jai Arrow has entered a new chapter in his personal life after marrying his long-time partner, Berina Colakovic, in a private ceremony in Sydney in July 2026.
The wedding came after several years together, an engagement in Italy and the arrival of their daughter, Ayla. Rather than holding a large public celebration, the couple chose to keep their special day small and private, with their daughter also taking part in the ceremony.
For Arrow, the marriage has arrived during a particularly significant period of his life. His retirement from professional rugby league and his recent motor neurone disease diagnosis have brought major changes, making his marriage to Berina an especially meaningful milestone for the family.
Who Is Jai Arrow’s Wife Berina Colakovic?
Berina Colakovic is the long-time partner and now wife of former rugby league player Jai Arrow.
The couple have maintained a relatively private relationship over the years, even though Arrow became a familiar name to rugby league fans during his NRL career.
Berina has been beside Arrow through important stages of his life, including his professional sporting career, their engagement and the birth of their daughter.
While Arrow has spent much of his adult life in the public eye because of rugby league, Berina has generally kept a lower profile. Their relationship has therefore largely been shared with fans through occasional photographs and social media updates rather than constant media attention.
That changed in 2026 when news of their private wedding became public.
Jai Arrow and Berina’s Relationship
Arrow and Berina had been together for several years before becoming husband and wife.
Their relationship eventually led to an engagement in late 2024. Arrow proposed to Berina during a trip to Italy, giving the couple another important memory to share.
The Italian proposal marked the beginning of their engagement period, although they did not rush into a large wedding.
Instead, they continued building their family life together while Arrow’s rugby league career entered its final stages.
The couple also welcomed their daughter, Ayla, who has become an important part of their family story.
Their decision to include Ayla in their wedding made the ceremony even more personal.
The Couple Married in Sydney
Jai Arrow and Berina Colakovic married in early July 2026 in Sydney.
The ceremony was described as a small and private event, with only a limited number of people involved. The couple chose an intimate celebration rather than a major public wedding.
Their daughter Ayla was also part of the special occasion.
The couple later announced their marriage themselves on social media. Their announcement was deliberately simple, with the words “We did a thing” accompanying their wedding news.
The understated announcement was very much in keeping with the couple’s approach to their personal life. Instead of releasing a lengthy statement or making the wedding into a major event, they shared the happy news in their own way.
Berina Was There Through Jai Arrow’s Career
Jai Arrow established himself as a respected rugby league player during his NRL career.
Known for his work as a forward, Arrow represented clubs at the highest level of Australian rugby league and became a familiar figure to fans.
Behind the scenes, Berina was part of his life throughout that professional journey.
Life with an elite athlete can involve a demanding schedule, travel, training and the physical pressures that come with professional sport. Having a long-term partner through those years can provide an important source of stability.
Their relationship continued even as Arrow’s professional career began to change.
Jai Arrow’s Retirement Changed Their Family’s Future
Arrow’s retirement from rugby league came at an important point in his life.
After years of competing at the highest level, stepping away from professional sport meant moving into a very different routine. Retirement itself can be a major adjustment for any athlete, particularly someone who has spent so much of their life focused on training and competition.
For Arrow and Berina, that transition happened alongside other major personal developments.
The couple were raising their daughter, planning their future together and preparing for marriage.
Then came Arrow’s diagnosis with motor neurone disease, a serious condition that has brought another difficult chapter to his life.
His health situation has understandably received significant attention, but Arrow and Berina have continued to face the changes as a family.
Their Daughter Ayla Was Part of the Wedding
One of the most touching details about Jai and Berina’s wedding was the involvement of their daughter, Ayla.
Rather than making the ceremony only about the couple, they included their young daughter in the important family moment.
For parents, a wedding can be more meaningful when their child is part of the celebration. In Arrow and Berina’s case, Ayla represents the family they have already built together.
The wedding therefore marked more than a marriage. It was also a celebration of their family and the years they had already spent together.
The Couple Made a Public Appearance at the Dally M Awards
Although the wedding itself was kept private, Arrow and Berina later appeared together publicly at the 2026 Dally M Awards.
The event gave rugby league fans another opportunity to see the couple together following their marriage.
The Dally M Awards are one of the biggest events on the Australian rugby league calendar, so Arrow and Berina’s appearance naturally attracted attention.
For Arrow, the event also carried a different meaning than it might have earlier in his playing career. Having retired from professional rugby league, he attended during a new stage of his life.
Berina’s presence alongside him highlighted the support and partnership that have been an important part of their relationship.
Their Engagement Began in Italy
Before the wedding, Italy played an important role in Arrow and Berina’s relationship.
Arrow proposed to Berina during a trip to Italy in late 2024. The proposal began their engagement and eventually led to their Sydney wedding almost two years later.
A proposal during an overseas trip can create a special memory for a couple, and Italy became part of the story of how they moved from long-time partners to an engaged couple.
The pair then took their time before getting married, choosing to keep their plans mostly away from the public eye.
A New Chapter for Jai Arrow and Berina
Marriage marks a major new chapter for any couple, but for Arrow and Berina, the timing makes their wedding particularly significant.
Arrow has recently stepped away from professional rugby league, while his MND diagnosis has changed many aspects of his future.
Through these changes, Berina has remained an important person in his life.
Their wedding in Sydney provided a moment of happiness during what has otherwise been a challenging period. It also gave the couple an opportunity to celebrate their relationship and family privately.
Rather than focusing on a huge ceremony, they chose something much more personal.
Jai Arrow and Berina Colakovic’s Family Life
The story of Jai Arrow and Berina Colakovic is ultimately about much more than the former NRL star’s career.
They have built a relationship that has developed over several years, welcomed their daughter Ayla, became engaged in Italy and eventually married in a private Sydney ceremony.
Their decision to keep the wedding small reflects the way they have generally handled their personal lives. While Arrow’s career has naturally brought public attention, the couple have often kept their family matters away from the spotlight.
Now, as husband and wife, they face a new stage together.
For rugby league fans, Jai Arrow will always be remembered for his contribution on the field. But his life away from rugby is equally important, and his marriage to Berina represents one of the biggest personal milestones of his recent years.
Their wedding may have been quiet, but its meaning for their family was anything but small. With their daughter by their side, Arrow and Berina have begun married life together while navigating a period of enormous change, showing the importance of family, partnership and staying close through life’s most difficult moments.