Nathan Cleary has surprisingly revealed that he may have persuaded Matildas star Mary Fowler to defect from supporting the Maroons to the Blues during this year’s State of Origin Series.
Fowler, who was born in Cairns, has even been asking Cleary to send her a New South Wales jumper ahead of next week’s opening State of Origin clash.
‘I’m gonna have to (send her a jersey), I reckon. She’s already put in the request, so I think I’m gonna have to,’ Cleary revealed on Monday to The Daily Telegraph.
Cleary, 27, who was named in Laurie Daly’s squad for next week’s series opener, also revealed that the Manchester City star was straight on the phone to him when she found out the news of his selection.
‘Well, she reckons she is going for the Blues, so I think I have swung her,’ he said.
The Matildas star will sadly not be able to return home to watch her boyfriend play for New South Wales.
Mary Fowler (right, pictured with Courtney Nevin) has made a bombshell move to switch allegiances from Queensland to New South Wales ahead of State of Origin
Her boyfriend, Nathan Cleary (pictured) has been selected to represent the Blues this year, with the Panthers halfback revealing Fowler asked him for a shirt
Fowler is currently recovering after undergoing a ruptured ACL and was seen using a wheel chair this weekend while she visited Chester Zoo
It comes after the Man City star agonisingly suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during her side’s Women’s FA Cup semi-final defeat by city rivals Manchester United on April 13.
Fowler, 22, had appeared to over-stretch to collect a pass but had grounded her right leg on the turf before falling to the floor in agony.
She would require surgery to fix the ruptured ligament, which cast doubts over whether she will be fit to return for Australia’s Asian Cup campaign in March 2026.
According to Cleary, the Queensland-born footy star is presently unable to travel back Down Under.
‘I don’t think so,’ the Panthers halfback said when pressed on whether Fowler would be able to make any of the Origin games this year.
He heartbreakingly then revealed that the footy star should have returned last week, following the conclusion of the Women’s Super League season, and would have made the game on Wednesday, May 28.
‘It’s pretty unfortunate because she was meant to be back last week, so she would have been able to come to the game.
‘But, yeah, she’s sort of attacking her rehab at the moment and hopefully she can get back at some stage, but nothing is confirmed yet.’
Fowler (left) appears to have been persuaded to support the Blues by her boyfriend, despite being born in Cairns
Over the past month, Cleary has paid multiple nods to his girlfriend, subtly posing for a picture in one of Fowler’s Matildas shirts, after her injury
Fowler had reciprocated the move last year when Cleary led the Panthers to their fourth-straight premiership title, donning a penrith jersey prior to turning out for Manchester City
The Man City star ruptured her ACL in April during Manchester City’s Women’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United
Fowler and Cleary recently reunited Down Under at the beginning of April, with the 22-year-old striker returning for Australia’s international friendlies against South Korea.
Fowler had scored in the second clash, with Cleary popping by to watch his girlfriend play.
They would later be seen enjoying a romantic day out at Redleaf Pool, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs – not far from the Matildas’ base in Double Bay.
Fowler would later make the 17,000km trip back to Manchester before suffering the injury a week later.
And despite the distance and time difference between them, Cleary has opened up on how he’s been supporting his beau throughout the past month.
‘I’ve just been trying to be by her side in spirit, obviously, not physically, which is tough, you know, because it is a lonely time for her, having to go through this rehab period,’ Cleary said.
‘But I’m so proud of the way she’s attacked it and she’s very strong-minded and I’m very proud of her and just trying to be by her side (through it).’
In recent weeks, he has paid several nods to his girlfriend, taking to Instagram to share a snap of him wearing one of her Matildas shirts, or posting a screen grab of himself finding Fowler’s Ultimate Team card on the video game EA Sports FC.
She was expected to return to Australia in recent weeks, following the conclusion of the WSL season, but has been stuck in the United Kingdom, following her knee injury
She had recently returned back to Australia to play in Australia’s recent international friendlies against South Korea
Despite the injury, Fowler appears to have been keeping a positive mindset throughout the past month.
She has published several snaps of her recovery journey online, including a video of her visiting Chester Zoo this weekend.
Fowler, who has been on crutches in recent weeks, was seen using a wheelchair as she and fellow Matildas star Courtney Nevin enjoyed a day out.
They stopped to check out the penguins, elephants and enjoy a coffee.
Fowler had captioned the post: ’11:20pm thoughts: This life is the life.’
She added a touching voiceover to the video, which stated: ‘I think the next plot twist is that things are about to get really good. I think the world is going to open up for you in unimaginable ways.
‘I think you’re walking into your best chapter yet. And finally, you’re going to see where all of this has been leading – your hard work hasn’t been for nothing.’
Cleary, meanwhile, is excited to be pulling on the blue jersey again after missing out on the entirety of last season’s State of Origin Series due to a hamstring injury.
But in recent weeks, fowler has published several inspiring posts on her Instagram as she progresses on her return from injury, revealing she is keeping a positive outlook
However, the Panthers’ star man is fearful of his place in the side.
Daley is expected to stick with halves pair Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai – following their brilliance, guiding the side to victory last year.
‘It’s hard to look past those two (Moses and Luai) and what they did last year,’ Cleary said.
‘It was such tough circumstances after losing game one and having to go up to Queensland and win game three.
‘But I’m pretty grateful that I got the call-up and I’m just going to have to progress on what they did last year and go again.’
