Erin Molan has broken her silence over a rumoured bitter feud with NRL legend Andrew Johns.
In a preview for Sunday’s Stellar magazine, published in Thursday’s The Daily Telegraph, the 36-year-old insisted she has nothing but ‘respect’ for the ‘immortal’.
Previous reports claimed that Andrew, 45, disliked working with the sports presenter, who had replaced Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin on Channel Nine’s The Footy Show in 2018.
Speaking out: Erin Molan (pictured), 36, has broken her silence over a rumoured feud with NRL legend Andrew Johns, in a preview for Stellar magazine in Thursday’s The Daily Telegraph
Intent on putting the rumours to rest, Erin told Stellar: ‘Andrew Johns is an immortal and he sees things in our game that no one else can see.
‘I have so much respect for him, as I do all the guys I work alongside.’
Erin has been inundated with negative comments from trolls online after reports of an ‘awkward’ falling out with Andrew were made public.
Reports: Previous reports claimed that Andrew, 45, disliked working with the sports presenter, who had replaced Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin on Channel Nine’s The Footy Show
The mother-of-one admitted to Stellar that while at first, the comments were upsetting, she has learnt to not give the trolls any attention.
‘The trolling used to upset me, but now I don’t give a tinker’s cuss,’ she said.
It comes amid reports Andrew dislikes working with Erin and quit The Footy Show because he didn’t want her being the main presenter.
‘Joey [Andrew] has never been a fan of Erin, which isn’t fair because she works her a**e off… The whole Footy Show thing, with Fatty being booted, that is where it started to go sour,’ an insider previously told The Daily Telegraph.
Praise: Putting the rumours to rest, Erin told Stellar: ‘Andrew (pictured) Johns is an immortal and he sees things in our game that no one else can see’
Rumoured feud: Reports claimed Andrew (right) dislikes working with Erin (left) and quit The NRL Footy Show because he didn’t want her being the main presenter
Andrew also removed himself from The Footy Show panel around the same time Paul was replaced by Erin.
He reportedly couldn’t stand the fact that she repeatedly interrupted her fellow Channel Nine commentators and giggled while on air.
‘He just doesn’t like working with her,’ a source told Daily Mail Australia in October.
That source said Andrew’s biggest gripes were that Erin giggled and spoke over him and other Nine personalities when they were talking about football.
Another source close to Andrew said he did not know when the problems between the pair began but the footballing great would not be backing down.
‘Joey is a stubborn bastard,’ they added. ‘If somewhere along the line she’s p***ed him off he’ll probably carry it around for the rest of his life.’
Support: Retired NRL star-turned-presenter Beau Ryan (pictured), 34, has continuously come to Erin’s defence, with regards to trolls
Daily Mail Australia understands Andrew point-blank refused requests by the Nine publicity department to put his name to gushing statements supporting Erin.
He also told the network he would not pretend he had no problem with her.
Meanwhile, retired NRL star-turned-presenter Beau Ryan has continuously come to Erin’s defence, with regards to trolls.
Speaking to TV WEEK magazine in October, the 34-year-old described all the hate as ‘unfair’.
‘Everything that has happened will make her stronger, and I can see her running The Today Show in 10 years’ time,’ he told the magazine.
He added: ‘It’s one of the biggest jobs in TV and I firmly believe this will help make her stronger and she’ll be a top dog at Nine.’
Beau admitted Erin had been ‘hurting’, and thought the drama surrounding her was ‘unfair’.
Props: Speaking to TV WEEK magazine in October, Beau described all the hate as ‘unfair’ and insisted Erin would be ‘running The Today Show in 10 years’ time’