- The Female Athlete Project Instagram page ‘paid tribute’ to Nathan Cleary
- The caption read: “Mary Fowler’s boyfriend wins sports trophy.”
Nathan Cleary is the toast of Penrith after leading his team to a fourth consecutive NRL premiership, but a popular social media page has made the triumph all about his girlfriend, Matildas star Mary Fowler, and The results are hilarious.
He Female Athlete Project uploaded an image to Instagram on Tuesday, in which the soccer ace celebrates a goal against France with the accompanying caption: “Mary Fowler’s boyfriend wins a sports trophy.”
Panthers halfback Cleary appears as an inset in the same photo, alongside the coveted NRL silverware.
And it didn’t take long for Fowler’s fans to chime in with some quality jokes.
“It’s cool that her boyfriend has a hobby,” one follower cheekily posted.
Another said: ‘Is that good? I wouldn’t know. I’ve never really watched men’s sports. It’s just not that exciting.
A third claimed: “That’s pretty good for a man.” Mary must be proud of him.
A fourth asked: ‘Wow! How do you balance being a good boyfriend at home and having a career?
Nathan Cleary is the toast of Penrith after leading his team to a fourth consecutive NRL premiership, but a social media page (pictured) made his triumph the sole focus of his star girlfriend Matildas, Mary Fowler.
One commenter hilariously says that it’s “cool that Mary Fowler’s boyfriend has a hobby.”
Another stated that she has “never really watched men’s sport because it’s just not that exciting.”
A third commentator felt that Cleary winning a fourth consecutive NRL title with Penrith was “pretty good for a man”.
Mary Fowler showed her Instagram followers that Nathan Cleary and the Panthers were in her thoughts ahead of the NRL grand final.
Earlier this week, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary (left) revealed that his son will put off surgery so he can fly to the UK and spend time with Mary Fowler.
‘I love that she’s helping him raise his profile. Good for him, as a guy, for being okay dating a girl who represents his country while he struggles playing for a Sydney suburb! added another.
The poor got so few scores. “They need to score more tries like the women,” said another fan, seeming to say the NRL isn’t held to the same standard as the NRLW.
It comes as Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher confirmed the club’s bold “plan” for Matildas star Fowler at the team’s delayed meeting with fans on Wednesday in western Sydney.
He joked that luring Fowler back to Australia could make the process easier when it comes to keeping the halfback and his father, head coach Ivan Cleary, at the club long-term.
‘Last year on the radio I said that if we win in ’23, we will definitely win in ’24 and ’25. So don’t be afraid of next year,’ Fletcher told his followers.
‘We also have the 26th and 27th left. And the reason I say that is because Ivan Cleary and Nathan Cleary are signed until the end of the 27th.
“It is my job and that of chief football executive Matt Cameron to extend this as much as we can.”
Fletcher then added, wryly: “Matt’s job is to bring Mary back to Australia.”
But Matildas fans should have no illusions – it is highly unlikely that Fowler, 21, will return to Australia to play domestically given her football career is just beginning overseas in the Women’s Super League.
She is a key figure at Manchester City and it looks like the loved-up couple will have to keep their relationship long-distance.
It comes as Ivan Cleary revealed his son will put surgery on hold so he can fly to the UK to spend time with Fowler.
“He’s going abroad to see Mary and then he’ll finish it,” he said at the club’s awards night on Tuesday.