- Is back in Australia recovering from injury
- Has been at the centre of rumours of a relationship breakdown
- Made a defiant statement in support of her man
Perhaps it was coincidence, or perhaps it was a clear signal to their haters, either way Mary Fowler made a statement about her committment to NRL boyfriend Nathan Cleary on Thursday.
There had been reports the power couple were on shaky ground after social media posts and public appearances began to dry up.
However she has put those suggestions to bed with a defiant single-letter message to those doubting their love.
Fowler was present at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night to support Cleary in their 22-18 loss to the Melbourne Storm, along with his mother Bec.
She wore a Penrith Panthers hoodie and notably, a beige cap with the letter ‘N’ emblazoned on it, the first letter of her beau Nathan’s name.
It comes after Fowler made big strides to put an end to rumours about her relationship with Panthers star Nathan Cleary by making a surprise appearance in the crowd at CommBank Stadium.
Fowler sat alongside Nathan Cleary’s mother, Bec, as the Panthers battled the Storm in a tight 22-18 contest
She wore a beige cap with a bold ‘N’ for Nathan, sending a public show of loyalty at CommBank Stadium
The Matildas forward made a defiant statement to silence breakup rumours, showing up to cheer on her NRL star boyfriend
Talk of a split had intensified after reports claimed the pair had spent little time together since Fowler arrived in Australia in July.
Those whispers were silenced when she was spotted at the ground alongside Nathan’s mum, Bec, cheering on Penrith as Cleary starred in a 36-2 win over the Tigers, their seventh straight victory.
Fowler suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United, which required a full knee reconstruction and likely sideline her for much of 2025.
Under the guidance of Matildas coach Joe Montemurro, she is currently doing running work in Sydney and aiming for a comeback by November 2025 – just seven months after her injury.
Cleary and Fowler began making headlines in late 2023, when photos emerged of the pair together in Sydney during the NRL off-season.
Their connection appeared to strengthen over the following months, with Cleary travelling to the United States in early 2024, where the two were seen together in Los Angeles during Fowler’s time with Manchester City’s women’s team on tour.
They became a regular talking point for fans and media alike, appearing in social media posts and being spotted together both in Australia and overseas, which fuelled public fascination with the high-profile sporting couple.
Speculation about a possible split emerged mid-2024 when reports claimed they had spent extended periods apart due to Fowler’s club commitments in England and Cleary’s NRL season.
Wearing a Penrith Panthers hoodie, Fowler threw her full support behind Cleary during Thursday night’s high-intensity NRL clash
Cleary and Fowler’s romance has been under the spotlight since late 2023 when they were first photographed together in Sydney
Fowler is back in Australia recovering from a serious ACL injury suffered during Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final loss in April
That lead to suggestions their demanding schedules might take a toll on the relationship.
The Matildas are preparing for a series of international friendlies later this year as part of their build-up to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Montemurro is expected to use these matches to test squad depth while key players like Sam Kerr and Fowler work through injury recoveries.
The long-term focus remains on securing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and building a squad capable of challenging for medals.
The Penrith Panthers will look to bounce back next week when they face the Canberra Raiders at home.
With finals approaching, the Panthers aim to regain momentum and secure a top-four position on the NRL ladder to push for an historic five-peat.
