- Couple put relationship doubts to rest in recent weeks
Wedding bells are ringing for the Cleary family with the happy news that Penrith star Nathan’s sister Indi is engaged to her partner Aden Perry.
The couple made the heartwarming announcement on Instagram on Saturday, showing their followers photos of Indi showing off her engagement ring in front of a mountain range, and holding hands with her man as they celebrated with some champagne.
Cleary captioned the post, ‘Forever with my best friend,’ adding a white-heart emoji.
The revelation drew messages of congratulations from footy stars past and present like Scott Sorensen, Mitch Kenny and Cooper Johns.
Fowler wrote, ‘So beautiful, congrats,’ adding a heart and smiling face with halo emoji.
Indi Cleary was recently spotted dining with Mary and Nathan at a top Sydney restaurant as her brother and the Matildas star shot down rumours their romance was going through a rocky patch.
Indi Cleary shows off her engagement ring with her fiancé Aden Perry as the couple announced they are getting married
The sister of NRL superstar Nathan Cleary had a stunning backdrop for her big reveal
Indi (right, facing camera) was recently spotted enjoying a meal with her brother and his Matildas star girlfriend Mary Fowler (pictured left)
The family meal at Totti’s Italian eatery in the city’s inner west is the latest in a list of signs that speculation their relationship was in trouble was off the mark.
Out-of-character moves by both stars on social media, coupled with the fact Nathan wasn’t there to greet Fowler when she flew into Sydney, seemed to point to a change in their dynamic.
However, Mary was then spotted cheering Nathan on as his Panthers beat the Wests Tigers last Saturday, followed by the couple smiling and laughing as they were photographed leaving Penrith headquarters together last Sunday.
Fowler was smiling and laughing as she and Cleary left the club’s training facilities after she was seen cheering him on from the stands as the defending premiers ran out big winners over Wests Tigers in round 22 of the NRL.
She also visited him at his home in Sydney’s west a few days beforehand, looking tense as she left.
The couple also appear to have had a date night at a tenpin bowling alley, where they were photographed posing with a Panthers fan in a heartwarming snap.
A series of eye-opening changes by the couple on social media first gave rise to speculation about their relationship earlier this month.
When Fowler flew into Sydney on July 16, Cleary – who’s usually with her when she arrives and departs at the airport – was nowhere to be seen.
Cleary and Fowler (pictured together) were recently spotted enjoying each other’s company in Sydney as they confirmed their romance is still going strong
Mary sent a heartfelt message to Indi and her man when the news was revealed on Saturday
The Matildas gun and the NRL superstar have been spotted at his place, enjoying a date at a tenpin bowling alley, and leaving Panthers headquarters together
More signs were there for all to see on social media.
Cleary has long had a pair of paw prints on his Instagram bio, likely as a nod to the Panthers. Fowler had the same emojis on her account – until she dropped them recently.
Ever since they got together, the couple have regularly shared and liked posts from and about each other, but that also changed in the last few weeks.
In an unusual move, Mary didn’t immediately like Nathan’s raw post about the embarrassment he felt after NSW fell to a heavy loss in the Origin decider against Queensland, in which he referenced the ‘self-loathing and hurt’ that come with defeat.
She has since liked that post while she’s been Down Under.
