Married At First Sight star Susie Bradley has given an update on her wedding plans after her NRL star partner Todd Carney popped the question. The couple announced their engagement in May this year, and it seems like the wedding date is fast approaching.

On Sunday, the Season 5 star posted a picture of a garden with the words "119 days" written on top – seemingly confirming their wedding date. That would mean the couple should be saying their nuptials on January 19, which isn't too far away at all!

Alongside photos of the beachside proposal, Susie wrote: "We met on the Saturday. On the Sunday he took me to this beach were we ate pizza and watched the sunset, and he said the words to me 'lay back on me'.

"It was in this very moment, on this very beach, laying back in his arms I knew. I knew I would love him forever."

Todd had written 'Will you marry me?' in the sand before getting down on one knee. Making the proposal even more special was the fact that the pair's children were present for the big moment.

Susie and Todd are parents to three-year-old son Lion Daryl, and Todd also stepped into the role of stepfather to Susie's nine-year-old daughter, Baby. The pair first met in 2019 and first got engaged in 2020 after Todd proposed at their gender reveal during Susie's pregnancy with Lion. However, they briefly split in 2022 but rekindled their relationship.

Earlier in May 2024, Susie told 9Entertainment their relationship was better than ever. "I think my life has just really settled into place, I feel like I'm where I'm meant to be," she celebrated.

"My business is flourishing, my home life is flourishing, Todd is doing exceptionally well which is obviously a huge part of my life. Basically, things couldn't really be any better. I did a post not long ago like, 'we're not perfect but I think we're about as perfect as you could get'."

Susie and Todd's Love Story: A Rollercoaster Ride

Susie's open and honest approach to discussing their relationship has provided fans with a glimpse into the ups and downs they have faced together. On her reconciliation with Todd, the beauty guru said: "I think for Todd and I, we didn't go our separate ways because we didn't love each other. Love was never really the question there for us."

She explained that the couple faced a significant hurdle when Todd's professional career ended. "Without delving into it too heavily, Todd and I met right at the end of his professional career. He'd only been technically retired for about three months from professional football. For me... no one acknowledges or appreciates how much a person such as Todd goes through when they have lived such a full-on career for more than half of their life, to then all of a sudden stop. That person is going to go through some stuff."

Susie described Todd's life change as a huge "transition phase", and one which he'd never faced before. "I was sort of just there along for the ride – I don't mean that in a bad way, but I was just sort of there. Maybe it wasn't the best time for him, in looking back."

"I'd already been through one breakup with [daughter] Baby's dad and I wasn't going to waste any more of my time in a relationship that I felt wasn't the best for both people at the time. We took some time and things have worked out how they're supposed to."

Despite the challenges, Susie maintains that the foundation of their relationship is strong. She added that the best thing about the couple's relationship is the love they have for each other. "We've been together basically for five years, and the best thing about Todd and I... I still – and I think he feels the same about me – I just love him so damn much," she said. "I know what it's like to lose love, I suppose, and the feeling of knowing that's not going anywhere is such a good feeling."

Navigating the Second Engagement and the Future

Susie also spoke out about their brief split in October 2023, saying she wasn't rushing into another engagement. "Well, we were engaged. Technically, we're no longer engaged," she said at the time. "We're taking it slow – there's not a doubt in me that Todd is who I'll be with until my last breath."

"But you know, also, life goes so damn fast. I really look forward to one day getting married, so I'm almost holding it off so I have something to look forward to. I want it to happen when it happens and, then he'll ask me to marry him again and we'll eventually plan a wedding. That's what I foresee happening."

Susie laughed as she admitted that she definitely wanted another official proposal in future, and explained: "We need to just wipe the slate clean from that, we put all that behind us. We've got to start fresh in that area. But I'm not in a rush. It will happen when it's meant to happen."

Todd Carney: A Life of Second Chances and Sobriety

While Susie and Todd are enjoying their love story, Todd is also facing his own personal challenges. He was one of the NRL's brightest prospects when he burst on the scene in 2004, but it was all taken away in the blink of an eye. With over 166 games to his name, Todd Carney's career came to an abrupt end following a string of off-field issues that led to his exile from the Cronulla Sharks. Now 18 months sober, Carney admits he regrets letting alcohol issues derail his promising career.

Bursting onto the scene for the Canberra Raiders as a 17-year-old fullback, Carney's career began to ignite. He played 71 games for the Raiders, 44 games for the Sydney Roosters and 51 games for the Sharks between 2004 and 2014, leaving each club in disgrace, with his elite talent saving his career time after time.

Carney's success on the field papered over the cracks of his off-field issues, which first got him sacked by the Raiders in 2009 and deregistered, with a Super League move collapsing and forcing him to play bush footy in north Queensland before another opportunity would arise.

Carney's talent ensured he got a lifeline from an NRL club every time he made a big mistake, which he said made it difficult to learn from them and make changes. It wasn't until his personal life was derailed after his footy career was long behind him that he finally had a long, hard look in the mirror.

Finding Redemption in Sobriety

Carney admitted himself into a rehabilitation centre in early 2023 after coming to the realization he was not the man he had hoped to be. The now 38-year-old reflected on his on-and-off relationship with Susie, whom he credits for prompting him to seek professional help. "When I finished footy, met my partner, had my son - Susie said to me one day, 'I can't be around you when you drink'," he said. "I was a 50/50 dad, that's what I called myself... We split up for a bit and that was a big wake-up call for me. That's when I hit rock bottom."

"I couldn't continue my life like that. I had to make the choice to go get help and clean myself up or go down a slippery path. In the end looking back on it, I would've lost everything."

Had the 2010 Dally M Medallist not encountered the hardships of his relationship due to alcohol, he says he would not be sober. "No, probably not," Carney said of his sobriety. "I always had a club coming to me and chasing me.... so I didn't learn anything. The next day after I got sacked I had a new contract somewhere else."

"When I look back on it now, three months [after his dismissal from Canberra in 2008] my dad passed away and then I ended up going to Atherton. I had the year off, NRL wouldn't let me register for that whole 12 months. I lived in a pub and worked in a pub. For that time, it was good because I knew what I had lost. I still had some growing up to do with what went on."

Carney explained that he was still figuring things out at that time. "I say to anyone now who is getting into trouble, 'take some time and invest in yourself and realise why you're doing the things you're doing'," he continued. "I woke up one day and I had had enough. I told [my partner] I needed help and was going to go to rehab. I just knew I needed professional help. While I was playing people had told me to do it but I didn't think I needed it because I was a rugby league player. Imagine what it would be like in rehab for a rugby league player."

"When I walked into the doors for rehab I was so nervous and scared. The guy that I sat with that day told me 'I know who you are. No one cares who you are. We are all in here fighting the same issues' ... It changed my life."

Carney's story is a reminder that even the most talented individuals can fall prey to addiction and that seeking help can be the first step towards redemption. His journey, while difficult, serves as inspiration for others who are struggling with their own demons. His story is a testament to the importance of seeking help and the possibility of finding redemption through sobriety.

Love, Second Chances, and New Beginnings

Susie and Todd's love story is a reminder that love can withstand even the toughest of challenges. Their journey has been a rollercoaster ride, with ups and downs, but they have emerged stronger and more committed to each other than ever before. With their wedding on the horizon, the couple is entering a new chapter in their lives, one that promises happiness, love, and a bright future together.

As for Todd, his story is one of second chances and redemption. His journey towards sobriety is inspiring, a testament to his commitment to overcoming his challenges and becoming the best version of himself. His journey serves as a beacon of hope for others who may be struggling with similar battles, reminding them that it is never too late to seek help and find a path towards recovery.

In the end, their stories are a reminder that even in the face of adversity, love, hope, and redemption are always possible. Both Susie and Todd are proof that the journey of life is about finding strength in ourselves and in each other, and embracing the second chances that come our way.