NRL host Tiffany Salmond has explained why she has been absent from rugby league broadcasts this year, even though she began the season on air in New Zealand.

Salmond has a background with New Zealand media, including RNZ and Sky, and has freelanced for Fox Sports and Triple M as a sideline reporter for Warriors NRL games.

She recently opened up about a distressing experience involving a deepfake AI assault, which spread fake content falsely depicting her in inappropriate scenarios that never actually occurred.

Now viewers are asking why she is not present on NRL broadcasts, despite starting the season in her usual sideline post at Warriors games. 

Salmond appears to have made the mid-season move from Auckland to Sydney in April, with a post from four weeks ago that included the caption: ‘Left the home advantage’.

Her profile has also been updated to say ‘Kiwi in Sydney’. 

Now, Salmond has posted an image at the iconic Bondi Icebergs Pool, the historic lap pool located at the south end of Bondi Beach overlooking the ocean.

She uploaded the image with the caption: ‘My first Sydney winter,’ with a white heart emoji.

‘Had to come back [to the pool] today.’

She also posted an image enjoying the warm Australian sun in a bathing suit.

After that, Salmond posted a News Corp snippet sharing the video of her deepfake attack and text that revealed she had moved to Australia but had yet to appear on a Fox League NRL broadcast.

‘The ongoing support never goes unnoticed,’ she posted.

‘It’s frustrating when politics gets in the way of doing the work you love.

‘But to still feel this much demand and backing from so many is something I never take for granted. Thank you for continuing to stand with me while I keep building what’s next.’

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Salmond said was grateful for the large amount of viewers calling for her return to NRL coverage.

‘Since my last on-air role, I’ve been incredibly grateful – and honestly humbled – by the ongoing public support and the way viewers have continued to call for my return,’ she said.

‘It’s not something I take lightly, and I’m very aware of how rare that kind of genuine audience connection is in this industry.

‘While I’ve always been proud of the work I’ve delivered, unfortunately, industry politics have played a role in limiting on-air opportunities, as is sometimes the case in this business.

‘But I’ve stayed focused on building what’s next, and there are some really exciting opportunities now opening up, particularly in entertainment, as well as in sport as I continue to expand my career here in Australia.’

It comes after Salmond previously shared a follower’s comment that read: ‘It’s all true we want Tiff back on the NRL coverage’.

‘The comments on that video have meant so much,’ she said in a video of herself walking down a Sydney street.

‘Even knowing that a sideline role is pretty interchangeable and I barely had much screen time, to still be receiving this kind of support, all this time later, mid season, it’s humbling.

‘So, thank you. And I’m sure you will be seeing me back on your screens very soon, whatever capacity that may be in.’

There has been a flood of support for Salmond on her Instagram account, where she has almost 40,000 followers. 

‘You are the best in the business. You don’t just ask generic questions, cliches and you know what you’re talking about and always seem to have a good relationship with whoever you interview. We need more like you reporting on the game,’ one follower posted.

‘I’m so glad I’m not the only one who’s missed you on the NRL coverage,’ another posted.

‘The comments are because your great at what you do Tiff. Hope you come back soon,’ another well-wisher commented.

And yet another posted: ‘I’d give up my left leg to see you on screen again.’