Beau Ryan answer two biggest criticisms of Erin Molan

There are two major problems rugby league fans have with Erin Molan — and her former colleague Beau Ryan says they’re both hogwash.

Beau Ryan has made a passionate defence of Erin Molan after a tumultuous week for his former Channel 9 stablemate.

Molan had an unexpected spotlight shone on her working relationship with NRL immortal Andrew Johns after a Daily Telegraph report revealed he stepped away from the network’s Friday night footy coverage when Molan took over hosting duties.

It led to intense focus on Molan’s abilities as a presenter — and nasty online trolling that left Molan struggling to sleep and in tears during a radio interview on Thursday.

“We all get trolled. Everyone in the media gets trolled (but) she cops it, man,” Ryan told Kyle and Jackie O on KIIS 1065, revealing he’d attempted to get Molan to stop reading the abusive comments.

“She’s done her apprenticeship in TV, it took her a while to break in — especially as a woman in the NRL as a presenter. It was tough and I’ve got nothing but respect and love for her. She is super-professional.”

The Daily Telegraph reported the fallout between Molan and Johns — which has been denied by both of them and Channel 9 — dates back to her taking over hosting duties of the Footy Show from Paul “Fatty” Vautin in 2017.

It’s a common gripe among rugby league fans, whose criticism of Molan stems from Nine’s apparent decision to attempt to save the show by appealing to a broader audience.

But Ryan said that wasn’t fair on Molan and Nine had put her in an unwinnable situation.

Beau Ryan and Erin Molan. Picture: El Pics/Getty Images

“She didn’t replace Fatty, the show changed (and) they just kept the name, which they shouldn’t have done,” he said.

“I even said it to Erin the other day, when you fill in for someone you get compared to them straight away … it makes it super hard (and) it’s not fair. She’s got her own flavour in what she does and she’s brilliant.”

It’s been suggested Molan’s presence also prompted Johns to step away from the Footy Show but Ryan insisted that wasn’t the case.

“Andrew Johns didn’t want to be on the Footy Show. It had nothing to do with Erin, me, Fatty ... he wants to commentate the games. He’s the best player ever. He’s the best analyst. He’s smart. He’s clever,” he said.

“We had the live (Footy Show) Thursday night last year and the game was on before us. I was out the back with him before the show and he wanted to be at the games. It had nothing to do with Erin.”

Ryan also rejected the other popular criticism of the 37-year-old mother-of-one — that she can’t know the game as well as former players.

“People look at her because she didn’t play rugby league but our best commentator, Ray Warren, didn’t play,” he said.

Both Molan and Johns are expected to be part of Nine’s grand final coverage on Sunday and Ryan expects it to be a focus for viewers. “All eyes will be on her on Sunday and all eyes will be on Joey,” he said.