The only original pair to survive MAFS are loving their new life living together.

Phillip Castleton

After surviving a particularly scandalous season of Married At First Sight Australia, the experiment’s only originally paired couple to stay together, Rhi Disljenkovic and Jeff Gobbels, have emerged
quietly victorious.

And while their castmates have been busying themselves with showy event appearances, podcasts and brand deals, Rhi and Jeff have been happy to just focus on themselves in their new little love nest.

“We moved in together a couple of months ago,” Rhi tells Woman’s Day.

“It’s been so easy,” adds Jeff.

“I mean, if we can get through MAFS in those tiny apartments, getting filmed every day, it’s going to be easy!”
(Credit: Phillip Castleton)
Their new space, located in Melbourne’s Caulfield North, is certainly an upgrade from the “shoebox without an oven” they lived in to film the experiment, Rhi adds.

And Jeff, who now has his own YouTube food channel, has been busy taking advantage of their full-sized kitchen. “I’ve been cooking nonstop,” he says.

“It’s been great,” laughs Rhi. “I don’t have to cook.”

Baby plans?

The couple giggle when we ask the customary Woman’s Day question around whether they’ve been “cooking” anything else, with Rhi conceding that, yes, they’ve “spoken a little bit” about having children.

“It’s definitely something that we want to do in the future,” admits Rhi..

“But for now, our main focus is just enjoying each other’s company. I feel like we’ve held off this long. I’m 35 and Jeff’s 40. We want to enjoy our relationship for what it is and just work on that for at least a year or so. We’re still in the honeymoon phase!”
(Credit: Phillip Castleton)

Is there a real wedding coming?

The pair also admit that while they’re looking forward to the future, they’re not in any rush to tick off any major milestones, such as getting married for real, like their MAFS colleagues Jacqui Burfoot and Clint Rice are planning.

“Everyone goes at their own pace and I guess if that’s what they’re up to in their relationship, then good on them,” Rhi says of her co-stars, who famously announced their engagement at a MAFS viewing party in April. “Each to their own, you know?”

And while some fans who are used to the theatrics usually associated with MAFS may label that a little underwhelming, the pair are OK with that.

Rhi laughs, “To be honest, we’re getting used to being called ‘the boring couple’ because the boring couple always work out in the end.”
(Credit: Phillip Castleton)

Adjusting to newfound fame

Rhi and Jeff say they’re still adjusting to their newfound fame – which has only been amplified by the show screening in the UK – with the lovebirds adding that they can’t go down to their local supermarket without people stopping them for a photo.

But it’s the constant thirst for “couple content” that has thrown them the most.

Rhi tells, “I went to Japan for 10 days and didn’t post about Jeff much, so everyone commented, ‘More Jeff content!’ As soon as I got back, I started posting Jeff and everyone’s like, ‘Oh, thank God you guys are still together!’”

But fan investment is just part and parcel of fame, they acknowledge, adding that they received some sage advice from previous MAFS stars.

“Jules [Robinson] told us to just focus on ourselves and ignore the rest,” says Jeff. “She told us not to let outside influences impact you too much – the most important thing is your relationship and anything extra is just a bonus.”