Andrew Johns makes move after Erin Molan departure

Rugby league icon Andrew Johns has reportedly made an eyebrow-raising move at Channel 9 following Erin Molan’s departure.

Andrew Johns is reportedly set to return to the Sunday Footy Show in 2022 in an eyebrow-raising move following Erin Molan’s decision to leave the network.

Molan hosted the long-running show in 2021, but her decision to quite the network and take up a new deal with Sky News and News Corp Australia has forced Channel 9 into a reported line-up shake-up ahead of the NRL season opener on March 10.

There had been persistent rumours that Molan and Johns did not get along. The pair did not feature together during Nine’s Friday night football broadcasts in 2021.

Johns and Molan have never spoken publicly to confirm the ongoing rumours they weren’t able to work alongside one another.

Phil Gould with Erin Molan and Billy Slater.

Now, The Daily Telegraph has revealed Johns’ return to The Sunday Footy Show coincides with Molan being replaced by Danika Mason, who has been promoted to host the show. Mason presented news segments on the show in 2021.

Johns has not featured on the Sunday broadcast since 2019, further fuelling rumours the pair actively avoid each other both on-and off-camera, it was reported in December.

Molan has an overflowing schedule in 2022, headlined by her feature appearances on Sky News Australia and her breakfast radio show in Sydney.

She is also writing a popular, regular column for Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Molan is looking to put her challenging 2021 behind her as she endured a year from hell, which included her split from fiance Sean Ogilvy, her father, Liberal Senator Jim Molan, being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and her sudden departure from Nine.

Former Channel Nine host Erin Molan. AAP Image/Joel Carrett.

Andrew Johns attends an NRL match in Newcastle. Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images.

The 39-year-old had been engaged to homicide Detective Ogilvy since 2017, and the couple welcomed daughter Eliza the following year.

Her split from Nine came just days after reports first emerged she had been offered a downgraded contract extension — the result of her hectic schedule and clashing projects.

It was reported at the time Molan was shifting to a less lucrative role where she would present the sport bulletin during the 6pm news on Friday and Saturday nights.

However, just a few days later it emerged she had made a decision to leave the network after more than 10 years.