There are few things in life more boring than a sideline interview with an NRL player.
But freelance reporter Tiffany Salmond certainly made the art of a post-game chat a lot more interesting when she brought her talents to Fox Sports in 2023.
But the Kiwi’s tenure as an interviewer for Warriors home games was somewhat tarnished by reports her late-night phone call to Fox League golden boy Jake Duke resulted in him being dumped by his 7News reporter girlfriend Grace Fitzgibbon.
We heard the call from Salmond in the ‘wee hours’ back in February 2024 caused a rift between Duke and Fitzgibbon, who had been dating for three years, and she subsequently moved out of their unit in Freshwater, on Sydney’s northern beaches.
She would later post an image of heaped cardboard boxes that became the talk of the television industry.
Salmond, who insisted to friends she had no idea Duke had a girlfriend when she called him, has mostly kept a low profile since then.
Indeed, we haven’t heard much from her besides her steady stream of bikini photos on Instagram and occasional freelance jobs for Fox Sports and Triple M.
But on Wednesday, my DMs blew up as readers alerted me to a post by Salmond, 27, announcing she was moving from New Zealand to Sydney.
NRL fans are wondering what happened to glamorous freelance reporter Tiffany Salmond after she stopped appearing on Fox Sports for New Zealand Warriors home games
!['A preview/warning of what my [Instagram] Stories will probably look like for the foreseeable [future],' she wrote on a bikini-clad photo of herself at Icebergs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/04/05/14/96896819-14565453-_A_preview_warning_of_what_my_Instagram_Stories_will_probably_lo-a-23_1743859192666.jpg)
On Wednesday, my DMs blew up as readers alerted me to these Instagram posts by Salmond, 27, announcing she was moving from New Zealand to Sydney
The Kiwi’s tenure as an interviewer for New Zealand Warriors home games was somewhat tarnished by reports her late-night phone call to Fox League golden boy Jake Duke (right) resulted in him being dumped by his 7News reporter girlfriend Grace Fitzgibbon
Now I would have seen the post myself… except she blocked me when I first reported on her friendship with Duke, who worked for Nine before his move to Fox Footy.
‘Obligatory Harbour Bridge pic to share some exciting news that I’ll officially be moving to Sydney next week,’ she wrote alongside a selfie.
In another post, she proudly displayed her ample assets in a scanty leopard-print bikini while posing at the Icebergs pool overlooking Bondi Beach.
‘A preview/warning of what my [Instagram] Stories will probably look like for the foreseeable [future],’ she wrote.
The posts sparked a flurry of industry gossip about why Salmond was relocating to the Harbour City.
Though she has yet to reveal the reason behind her move to Sydney, many of her male admirers are eagerly speculating whether she’ll make a return to Fox Sports – which I can confirm is not happening.
‘How come you’re not on Fox anymore?’ wrote one. ‘Did Foxtel give you the flick? [Would] be nice to get an answer on what happened,’ asked another.
After one fan commented, ‘Man, [I’m] itching for a Warriors home game for the TV,’ another replied: ‘Not on Foxtel in Australia. [They’re] using another commentator.’
Though she has yet to reveal the reason behind her move to Sydney, many fans are eagerly speculating whether she’ll make a return to Fox Sports – which I can confirm is not happening
Salmond’s absence from Fox Sports’ coverage of Warriors games has become a talking point
We asked around our contacts at Fox Sports and Triple M to see if anyone could tell us whether she had a gig lined up at a Sydney-based media company.
A Triple M insider confirmed a full-time job wasn’t on the cards, simply because there is no full-time sports or commentary gig going at the moment.
‘But she’s freelanced for us for about two years and has done commentary for a handful of games. She’s well-liked and talented,’ they added.
‘We’ve watched her stuff at Fox play out and we’ll pull her in when we need her.’
A separate radio source joked that ‘she looks like someone Dave Cameron [Southern Cross Austereo’s chief content officer] would hire.’
‘Also Charlie White [Triple M’s NRL content manager], is following her on Instagram, so she’s definitely on their radar,’ they added.
A week ago, Salmond told her followers to ‘tune into Triple M if you miss me’ on Fox Sports. We understand she will continue to work freelance for Triple M but a full-time gig isn’t on the cards
We struggled to get a straight answer from anyone at Fox Sports, but eventually received confirmation ‘she no longer works for us in any capacity’
Salmond looked sensational at the Simon Mannering Medal
We struggled to get a straight answer from anyone at Fox Sports, and in fact received some downright hostile responses when did put feelers out.
Eventually a brusque text from someone senior there found its way to us advising ‘she no longer works for us in any capacity’.
Who knew a little rumour about some industry moves could cause such… tension?
Perhaps things are a still raw after Duke and Salmond’s late-night phone call caused so many unflattering headlines for the sports network’s ‘golden boy’ last year.
Jake Duke and Grace Fitzgibbon’s relationship imploded after he received a late night phone call from his New Zealand-based colleague Tiffany Salmond
But we hope she does find a home with Fox League in Sydney because, thirst traps aside, she’s more than capable as a broadcaster.
We also hear the Kiwi had firmly believed Duke was single when she called him in early hours that fateful Saturday morning last February.
At the time, she told mates she had no idea the league reporter had a girlfriend because Fitzgibbon rarely featured on Duke’s personal Instagram.
For now, it remains to be seen what Salmond does next – although some of her more overzealous male followers have made a few bold suggestions…
She also does not appear to be following Duke on social media anymore.
Probably for the best.
Meanwhile, Fitzgibbon is now believed to be dating a Special Forces soldier known only as ‘Az‘ who had been a pallbearer at the funeral of her brother Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon, who was killed in a parachuting accident on March 7, 2024.
‘They’ve bonded in grief but he makes her really, really happy and it’s nice to see Grace smile again,’ a friend previously said.
- Additional reporting by Jo Scrimshire
NEW TO MAIL+? READ MORE OF OUR SPORTS COVERAGE:
