Andrew Johns ex-wife comes to Erin Molan’s defence

The ex-wife of Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns has come out in support of Erin Molan amid reports of an alleged feud with the NRL legend.

The former wife of Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns has come out in defence of Erin Molan amid reports of an alleged feud with the veteran NRL player.

Publicist Catherine Mahoney posted her support of Molan on Instagram, saying they met in 2007 when they both worked at Channel 9.

“She was then, and is now incredibly researched, hardworking, thorough, intelligent, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, smart and bloody hardworking,” she wrote.

Andrew Johns and Catherine Mahoney first split in 2011.

Their relationship broke down again in 2015.

“I am honoured to call her a friend. It’s sad that nasty types with a keyboard are allowed to be so vile, but the reality is if you know Erin you know she is a top bird and someone you’d love to call (a) friend.”

Mahoney and Johns’s marriage broke down in 2011 — and they split again in 2015 after an attempt to reconcile.

In 2013, Mahoney said living with Johns’s bipolar condition had tested the couple’s ­marriage.

“Andrew is not perfect, but who is? And there have been some hard times. I’m glad he ­revealed his bipolar condition but, as he says, living with it is not all ­negative,’’ she wrote in a chapter of Johns’s book Two of Me.

Instagram post by Catherine Mahoney about Erin Molan.

The public show of support to Molan comes after the sports presenter broke down in tears while she was doing a live radio performance on Thursday.

Molan, who was wearing dark sunglasses, wiped her eyes as she told WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda she was having a “rough” time in the run-up to this weekend’s NRL Grand Final.

Erin Molan breaks down live on radio. Picture: Supplied

“I am so sorry, I haven’t put my contacts in this morning. I had a rough night. I didn’t sleep very well and these are prescriptions,” Molan said, explaining her eyewear.

Radio host Amanda Keller praised Molan for her professionalism

“I think it’s because you are so professional, you are so good at your job and I think men don’t like you being good in what they still see as their world,” Keller said.

‘I admire the pants off you … I just think you are the most professional female and it’s threatened everybody.”

The TV personality was wearing prescription shades as she forgot her contact lenses.

Molan’s appearance comes after her former Footy Show co-host Beau Ryan called “bullsh**” on trolling attacking Molan for the demise of Nine’s once-top rating NRL program.

Molan has been victimised on social media after news of a reported feud with Johns, her league commentary partner.

She was blamed her for the reported split — which saw Johns banished from working on the same telecast as his female co-star.

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Beau Ryan says his friend Erin Molan has been the victim of unfair attacks for years. Picture: Christian Gilles

Ryan, who worked with both Molan and Johns at Nine — before signing with 10 to host a new series of The Amazing Race Australia — said “it was bullsh**” to scapegoat Molan for the casting call made by Nine management and head of sport, Tom Malone.

“I’ve been really close to Erin since she started and have so much respect for her,” Ryan told News Corp.

“You’ve got to remember she was one of the first women to come in and work in NRL. Girls like her and [Fox Sports’] Lara Pitt, it was super hard to break into the rugby league world. When I was a kid watching The Footy Show or commentary, there were no girls involved. So the first ones are always going to find it hard.”

Erin Molan has been “broken” by social media trolling, says Beau Ryan. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

But he had “nothing but respect for” Molan, who he said had been “broken” by years of social media attacks, but “sucked it up and delivered [on air].”

“When you play rugby league or any sport, you’re used to being heckled and abused. But come into the social world and it’s hard. I cop trolling too but I’m all right with it, it doesn’t define me and doesn’t affect me,” he said.

“That’s what happens to these reality stars … they get on there and think everything’s going to rosy and then they get trolled and can get really down and dark. I saw that happen to Erin.

“She’s got a journalism background, she’s done nothing wrong and been trolled for her looks or what she’s done or said, or the show she’s working on, or the team she supports. And it took a toll on her.”

Erin Molan and Andrew Johns worked together at Nine. Picture: Tim Marsden

He revealed he had counselled the Channel 9 star, who was often left to fend off the attacks on her own.

“I spoke to her many times after the show, before the show and the fact that she just sucked it up and went out there and delivered … for her to come out and go on live TV, mate, I can’t speak highly enough of her.”

Andrew Johns is a “good person”, says Beau Ryan. Picture: Gregg Porteous

He also disputed reports claiming Molan was to blame for his exit from The Footy Show, explaining it came down to Johns making his own career call.

“Joey wanted to work on the footy, on the broadcast. He didn’t want to work on The Footy Show and all she wanted to do was present the show.”

He remains friends with both Molan and Johns, also defending the former Newcastle Knights and Australian player.

“People say stuff about Andrew Johns as well but he’s as good a person as I’ve met. He’s generous and caring. He can be guarded and has his walls up and doesn’t let you in, so I don’t know if that’s happened with Erin … but he’s one of the loveliest people I know and I love working with him.”

Originally published as Andrew Johns ex-wife comes to Erin Molan’s defence