On Sunday, Nathan Cleary will lead Penrith into the NRL Grand Final as his team chases an unprecedented fourth consecutive premiership victory.
But several questions loom over the running back’s fitness, as the 26-year-old has battled a troublesome shoulder injury all season.
Panthers fans will be hoping the injury doesn’t pose too much of a problem for their star midfielder after he aggravated the problem during his team’s 22-24 win against the Storm in August.
The 26-year-old was sidelined for the next three matches but returned to produce two try assists in the Panthers’ opening finals clash against the Roosters.
While there has been speculation about whether Cleary will be 100 per cent fit to play, other fans have been asking if her partner and Matilda star Mary Fowler will make a quick visit from the UK to support her partner at the Accor Stadium .
Fowler, 21, currently plays for Manchester City and the Women’s Super League kicked off its 2024-25 season two weeks ago.
Fowler has made two appearances off the bench this season, but has started City’s first two Women’s Champions League qualifiers against Paris Saint-Germain, with the Australian star scoring in the first leg of the tie. .
Nathan Cleary has revealed whether his girlfriend Mary Fowler will attend the NRL Grand Final
Fans have been eager to find out if Fowler will make the return trip from the UK to support the Panthers star.
Fowler currently plays for Manchester City Women, who began their WSL season two weeks ago.
But ahead of Sunday’s Grand Final, Cleary was pressed about whether Fowler would fly back to cheer him on in Sunday’s main event, and the Panthers superstar couldn’t help but smile at the question.
Cleary told reporters: ‘She’s not coming. His season has just started again in England. I think she’ll be watching, but she won’t be there.
City’s next game will be at home against West Ham on Sunday. But their match won’t start until 11pm (AEDT), with the Grand Final starting at 7.30pm (AEDT).
It means there is a strong chance City’s women’s star will miss much of the game as she prepares for the WSL clash.
It had been reported that Cleary was considering a move to Super League and joining his girlfriend in the UK, but this speculation has since been ruled out by Penrith bosses, who maintain that he has not expressed a desire to leave.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed Cleary and Fowler were dating last November and recently enjoyed spending some time together after the City star returned to Australia after the Matildas were knocked out of the Paris Olympics.
The couple has been dating since last November and their blossoming relationship has been in the spotlight.
Fowler spent some time at home in Australia recently after the Matildas were eliminated from the Paris Olympics.
Cleary was reported to be considering a move to Super League and joining his girlfriend in the UK.
In recent weeks, Brian To’o teased that the couple are now “engaged” during a cheeky post-match interview. To’o joked that fans were cheering for Cleary and his girlfriend Fowler, who are now “engaged” during the Panthers’ recent win over the Titans.
‘They’re just chilling because everyone is going crazy. You’re practically here because of Nathan and Mary, so congratulations, I think you guys got engaged.
‘Congratulations to them.’
While that has not been officially confirmed, Cleary has opened up about the impact the City star has had on his life. A totally smitten Cleary declared that their relationship has “added a new perspective” and praised Fowler for being “super supportive.” ‘.
“I’ve loved it, it’s everything I could have dreamed of having a partner, to be honest,” he told Channel Nine’s Marlee and Me podcast.
“It just adds a new perspective, but it also adds an extra layer that when things are going well, you want to share it with them and talk about it, and when things aren’t going well, they’re there too.”
‘I feel very supportive and I loved it. To be honest, it’s a great addition to life and made me very happy. Love wins.’
Cleary, pictured with his dog Prince, spoke fondly about the influence Mary has had on his life since they became a couple last year.
It is feared Cleary may still be nursing a shoulder injury ahead of Sunday’s Grand Final.
Cleary also spoke about the shoulder injury that caused him to leave the field during Penrith’s recent clash against the Storm.
He assured Panthers fans that the injury was “fine” before adding “it was just a little bump.”
“It was always going to be one of the things where I wasn’t 100 percent,” the running back said.
“I definitely felt confident getting back on the field and playing… I wasn’t even thinking about that.” Even after that little incident, I played the next two sets and was very good.”