Jake Duke has returned to his NRL sideline commentary duties with Fox Sports following a high-profile split with Seven’s Grace Fitzgibbon.
The popular television host considered the “golden boy” of Fox Sports has been dumped by his reporter girlfriend after receiving a late-night phone call from a colleague.
Seven News reporter Grace Fitzgibbon was left “devastated and heartbroken” when her boyfriend of three years, Jake Duke, received the call on February 17.
A source close to the couple told Daily Mail Australia the call came to Duke, 30, “in the early hours” from New Zealand-based rugby league reporter Tiffany Salmond.
That led Fitzgibbon, 31, to end the three-year relationship and leave the couple’s apartment in Freshwater, on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Duke traveled to Fiji for the NRL pre-season match between the Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm on Saturday.
Duke returned to duties on the sidelines of Fox Sports following their high-profile breakup, pictured interviewing Melbourne Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Duke was spotted at Lautoka Stadium in Fiji battling the heat in the lead-up to the match between the Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm.
He was seen at the Lautoka stadium before the match, wearing a suit but no jacket, in sweltering conditions in Fiji.
The commentary team of Andrew Voss and Steve Roach addressed Duke on the sideline early in the game.
“Bula from the sidelines here in Fiji, guys,” Duke said.
‘A great day, a great atmosphere for some island rugby league.
“The good news for these players, the good news for everyone, is the sweltering heat. The sweltering conditions have eased in the last 20 minutes and kick-off has been delayed slightly.
“There is also a strong breeze that favors the Melbourne Storm, who will get another set.”
“We will still have a long break and drink breaks for this game because it is still quite hot.”
Duke also appeared in an interview with injured Melbourne Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona, which was cut short due to technical difficulties.
In a move that sparked rumors in television circles, Fitzgibbon briefly posted an image of his possessions piled up in cardboard boxes over the weekend.
Jake Duke and Grace Fitzgibbon’s relationship imploded after he received a late-night phone call from a colleague living in New Zealand.
Tiffany Salmond (left and right) called Jake Duke ‘in the early hours of Saturday morning’, prompting his girlfriend to end their three-year relationship.
The couple’s split comes just days after they adopted a kitten named ‘Muffin’, with Fitzgibbon posting a picture of Duke gingerly petting the feline.
“Finally a momma cat… can’t stop, won’t stop crying,” she captioned the image.
Both Fitzgibbon and Duke declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Duke, Fitzgibbon or Salmand do not suggest evil actions.
Salmond, 26, is a freelance sports reporter who debuted on Fox Sports Australia last September.
Last year he worked alongside Duke during an NRL Warriors match in Auckland.
Duke regularly travels to New Zealand to fulfill his NRL presenting commitments.
Auckland-based Salmond last week shared images from a trip to Sydney, including photos of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and dinner on Woolloomooloo Pier.
Salmond is an aspiring sports presenter living in Auckland. Upstairs with Duke on the sidelines
Tiffany Salmond photographed in Sydney last week
Duke and Fitzgibbon, who live together in Freshwater, recently adopted a kitten named Muffin.
“I have a background in journalism, reporting and production, and am passionate about sports broadcasting and rugby league,” his LinkedIn page said.
Duke was named ‘Sports Media Person of the Year’ at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards last November.
He also hosts the podcast Refuse to Lose, a platform for athletes who “use their voice to change the world around them.”
Fitzgibbon is the daughter of Joel Fitzgibbon, a retired Labor leader who was defense and agriculture minister when Kevin Rudd was prime minister.
He previously worked for Nine News and is also a registered marriage celebrant.
Tiffany Salmond has been contacted for comment.