Who Is Nathan Cleary's Girlfriend?
Nathan Cleary’s girlfriend is Mary Fowler, yeah, the very same Mary smashing goals for Manchester City and lighting up the field with the Matildas. It’s one of those unexpected sports star pairings that just… works. When news first broke, social media went wild. There was the now-infamous ice cream date in August 2023. People speculated, the papers jumped in with classic “just friends!” quotes, but then cue more photos, more strolls by the Nepean, plenty of slightly awkward sideline sightings.
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So, yes, Nathan Cleary’s girlfriend is Mary Fowler, and apparently, the romance has a lot more depth than most Instagram captions would let on.
The Early Rumors
The first real spark was simple: ice cream. Not exactly the stuff of headlines, but when two young sports stars meet for a casual dessert, the world notices. Cleary’s Penrith Panthers quickly did the standard PR cover "just ice cream, nothing more." Fans, of course, didn’t buy it. Neither did the media, snapping up more shots when the pair were out for riverside walks and park hangs. There’s something charmingly normal in all of this, honestly. Who hasn’t had that “wait, is this a date?” moment over dessert, only to be quizzed by half their friends for a week straight?
How Did They Get Together?
Their official “couple” status took a while to brew. Cleary supported Fowler at her Olympic qualifiers in Perth (gold-star boyfriend move, if you ask me), and by late 2023, they were seen holding hands and just… being young people in love. Fowler’s airport reunions, Cleary’s bashful red-carpet deflections (“just here solo, she’s busy”), and the random social media whispers it all starting to tie together. You could say, not without some “he said, she said”.
Are They a Sports Power Couple?
Yes, Fowler’s in Manchester, Cleary’s holding it down in Sydney, they’re keeping things together across continents and schedules. There’s been the usual long-distance grind, occasional engagement whispers, and even heartfelt podcast bits where Cleary talks about possibly having kids with Fowler one day. If you’ve ever managed a relationship with packed calendars and a few thousand kilometers in between, honestly, you get it.
Little Moments That Feel True
One of the cutest tidbits? Fowler wore Cleary’s team jersey to her own match in England, watching his grand final from the sheds because she couldn’t fly in for it. Real-life relationships are often just about making the effort, wearing a Panthers jersey far from home, showing up in the crowd, and giving each other some space when the headlines get too much. Something is endearing in it, especially for fans tired of “perfect” romance stories.
Sure, most of us aren’t dating superstar athletes, but there’s something about Cleary and Fowler’s story that feels a little lived-in, a little messy, a little sweet, and more than a few nervous ice cream dates.
