- Female Athlete Project Instagram page ‘paid tribute’ to Nathan Cleary
- Photo caption read: ‘Mary Fowler’s boyfriend wins sport trophy’
Nathan Cleary is the toast of Penrith after guiding his team to a fourth straight NRL premiership – but one popular social media page has made the triumph all about his girlfriend, Matildas star Mary Fowler – and the results are hilarious.
The Female Athlete Project uploaded an image to Instagram on Tuesday featuring the soccer ace celebrating a goal against France with the accompanying caption: ‘Mary Fowler’s boyfriend wins sport trophy.’
Panthers halfback Cleary appears as an inset in the same photo, next to the coveted NRL silverware.
And it didn’t long for Fowler fans to weigh in with some quality banter.
‘It’s great that her boyfriend has a hobby,’ one supporter cheekily posted.
Another said: ‘Is that like, good? I wouldn’t know. I’ve never really watched men’s sports. Its just not as exciting.’
A third stated: ‘That’s pretty good for a man. Mary must be proud of him.’
A fourth asked: ‘Wow! How does he balance being a good boyfriend at home and having a career?
Nathan Cleary is the toast of Penrith after guiding his team to a fourth successive NRL premiership – but one social media page (pictured) made his triumph all about his girlfriend, Matildas star Mary Fowler
One commenter hilariously it’s ‘great that Mary Fowler’s boyfriend has a hobby’
Another declared she has ‘never really watched men’s sport as it’s just not as exciting’
A third commenter felt Cleary winning a fourth successive NRL title with Penrith was ‘pretty good for a man’
Mary Fowler showed her Instagram followers that Nathan Cleary and the Panthers were in her thoughts ahead of the NRL grand final
Earlier this week, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary (left) revealed his son will put surgery on hold so he can fly to the UK and spend time with Mary Fowler
‘I love her helping raise his profile. Good on him, as a guy, being ok dating a girl who represents her country whilst he battles away playing for a suburb of Sydney!’ added another.
‘It was so low scoring, the poor men. They need to score more tries like the women,’ another fan said, appearing to say the NRL isn’t at the same standard as the NRLW.
It comes as Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher confirmed the club’s bold ‘plan’ for Matildas star Fowler at the team’s delayed get-together with fans on Wednesday in Sydney’s west.
He joked that luring Fowler back to Australia could make the process easier when it comes to keeping the halfback and his father, head coach Ivan Cleary, at the club long term.
‘Last year on radio I said if we win in ’23, we’ll definitely win in ’24 and ’25. So don’t be afraid of next year,’ Fletcher told supporters.
‘We’ve also got ’26 and ’27 to go. And why I say that is, Ivan Cleary and Nathan Cleary are signed until the end of ’27.
‘It’s my job and the CEO of football, Matt Cameron, to extend that as far as we can.’
Fletcher then added, tongue in cheek: ‘Matt’s job is he’s got to bring Mary back to Australia.’
But Matildas fans shouldn’t get their hopes up – Fowler, 21, is highly unlikely to return to Australia to play domestically given her football career is only just starting abroad in the Women’s Super League.
She is a key figure with Manchester City, and it appears the loved up couple will have to maintain their long-distance relationship.
It comes as Ivan Cleary revealed his son will put surgery on hold so he can fly to the UK and spend time with Fowler.
‘He’s heading overseas to see Mary, and then he’ll get it done,’ he said at the club’s awards night on Tuesday.
