There was certainly a lot of controversy at last night’s NRL Grand Final, but as the referee fallout stole the show, there was an extra layer of drama simmering under the surface of the evening.

In the week leading up to the final match of the season, sports presenter Erin Molan has been the subject of abhorrent trolling because she is apparently “feuding” with former player Andrew Johns who finds her “difficult to work with.”

Last night, fans noticed her absence from the core coverage of the night, turning to Google in droves to ask: Where’s Erin Molan?

Sidenote: Here’s the most awkward thing that happened on TV during last night’s coverage. Post continues after video.

Channel Nine spent about 12 hours broadcasting yesterday, and Johns and Molan never had to so much as eyeball each other. They had very different roles during the day.

Although the broadcaster has since confirmed toMamamiathat that is comparable to recent years, fans still noticed the distance between them.

Umm. Where is @Erin_Molan during tonight’s NRL GF coverage? Boys club….again. #NRLGrandFinal

— Alison Drower (@adrower) October 6, 2019

@wwos hiding Johns and not using @Erin_Molan much either !!!

— Stealth1 (@SlamminSamz) October 6, 2019

Where is Erin Molan?

— Phoebe Loomes (@dollyybird) October 6, 2019

Johns stuck to commentating for the highly anticipated final, while Molan didn’t appear until the end where she interviewed player’s families in the crowd.

She’s had a tough week in the media spotlight after the Daily Telegraph published a story claiming Johns had experienced a personality clash with her, and refused to work with her.

Erin Molan during the NRL post match coverage. Image: Nine.

On Wednesday she appeared on 101.7 WSFM’sJonesy and Amanda,in sunglasses to cover her sleep-deprived eyes.

“I am so sorry, I haven’t put my contacts in this morning. I had a rough night. I didn’t sleep very well…” she began.

The radio duo led an impassioned defence of the experienced sports reporter, which was echoed by Beau Ryan and colleagues - both male and female - from the world of media.

An exhausted Erin Molan on radio earlier this week. Image: WFSM.

Molan is no stranger to online abuse.

They've come at her for her gender, her experience, her parenting, her appearance.

But on the biggest working week of her year, Molan pulled herself together despite the stream of abuse being thrown at her, and got on with the job at hand.

The sign of a true professional.