- The power couple of Australian sports had a brief meeting in Australia
- Fowler will play for the Matildas in Adelaide on Friday night
- Cleary still injured with a hamstring problem
Nathan Cleary has been photographed saying goodbye to his girlfriend Mary Fowler in touching scenes at Sydney Airport, and the snaps reveal a telling detail about the most popular couple in Australian sport.
The Penrith NRL halfback and Matildas star bid a fond farewell as she flew to Australia’s match against China in Adelaide on Friday night.
They smiled and held hands as Cleary carried her luggage to her partner before checking in and then posed while taking some photos with a disposable camera.
The stars also posed for some fans who watched and then hugged each other before the 21-year-old flew off to join her Matildas teammates.
The sports stars were all smiles as Cleary said goodbye to his girlfriend in Sydney earlier this week.
The Penrith playmaker and Manchester City striker had a brief reunion in their hometown before having to fly to Adelaide to join his Matildas teammates.
They were both dressed very casually in sports shirts, but closer inspection revealed that there is a big difference in their wardrobe choices.
Fowler chose a simple piece from Adidas that’s worth around $90 in Australia, but Cleary chose a printed hoodie from Rhude’s Beach Club that’s worth up to $1,175 in Australia.
The pair have been a couple since late last year, with Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealing their romance in photos of Fowler resting his head on the footballer’s shirtless chest in a Perth park before another Matildas match.
Late last week they were spotted at a cafe in Cronulla, a coastal suburb south of Sydney, while Cleary remains out of football with a troublesome hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Fowler is in full preparation for the Australian team’s gold medal challenge at the Paris Olympics in July, with his goalscoring ability taking on added importance in the absence of injured striker Sam Kerr.
Cleary was seen playfully posing for photographs while Fowler used a disposable camera.
The pair shared a hug before Fowler flew out for Friday night’s game against China.
Both were dressed casually in hoodies, but while Fowler’s is worth around $100, Cleary illustrated their very different tastes by choosing a designer option valued at $1,175.
They first attracted attention as a potential couple when they were spotted together twice after the Women’s World Cup in Australia last year.
Their first public appearance in August last year included a relaxed stroll along the Nepean River in Penrith, where the 25-year-old NRL sensation and the Matildas forward were seen enjoying each other’s company.
In addition, they were seen sharing ice cream after participating in a promotional event organized by Adidas, a brand supported by both athletes.
The couple officially announced their romance in Perth in October, confirming suspicions raised by their previous sightings.
Cleary finally went Instagram official with Fowler in January this year when she shared a photo of them sitting together on an Australian beach, along with the caption “that’s life.”
She also added an ice cream emoji, a direct reference to the first hint that the pair were an item back in August.
Cleary’s camp initially denied that the pair were dating, saying it was “just ice cream” and nothing more.
The pair held hands as they strolled through the terminal, and should reunite when Fowler returns to Sydney ahead of the Matildas’ clash with China next Monday.
The power couple enjoyed some time together over the Christmas break and Fowler was given a few weeks off during the Women’s Super League winter break.
The couple met at Sydney airport at the end of last December, had not seen each other since November 2 and were almost inseparable until their return to England.
Fowler spent a couple of Christmas days away from Cleary, which he spent with his family in Cairns.
Both athletes are said to be very private when it comes to their relationships, but Cleary admitted that the intense attention on her personal life is something she didn’t expect.
‘It’s obviously different from when I was young, when I was in first grade and people were dissecting my game. I hadn’t had that before,’ he said.