Nathan Cleary has been spending some time outside Australia in recent weeks and is currently visiting his girlfriend Mary Fowler in the UK.
The NRL star traveled to the UK fresh from leading Penrith to their fourth consecutive NRL premiership and postponed shoulder surgery to spend some time with the Manchester City star.
The couple, considered by many to be Australia’s most notable sporting couple, took to Instagram on Tuesday to post some snaps of their time together, and were seen taking a trip to the coast, while exploring Manchester.
It comes after Cleary, 26, posted a photo of himself cheering on Fowler as she took part in City’s 2-1 win against Aston Villa over the weekend.
Fowler has been impressing for the Man City women’s team of late, having scored two goals in all competitions since the start of the season and this week was called up to the Matildas squad as they travel to play Switzerland in Zurich on Friday in a friendly international. Australia will then travel to face Germany on Monday.
Fowler was pictured with members of the Matildas team arriving in Switzerland ahead of the match, but it is unclear whether Cleary will also travel to mainland Europe to watch the match.
Cleary also traveled to Switzerland before the game and posted several Instagram posts of himself jumping in a lake in the mountains.
The pair had first been spotted in Europe a week after Penrith defeated the Melbourne Storm in Sydney. They were pictured at Old Trafford watching the Super League Grand Final as Wigan claimed victory over Hull Kingston Rovers, meaning the Warriors will play the Panthers in the World Club Challenge next year.
During half-time, Cleary was invited to an interview with Sky Sports Rugby League, where the Australian rugby league star poured cold water on rumors linking him with a move to play in Europe so he could be closer to his girlfriend Fowler. .
“Not anytime soon, to be honest,” Cleary said when asked about rumors linking him to league teams in Europe and a possible code switch to play in the union in the northern hemisphere.
‘I’ve seen all the rumours. But come here and watch (Mary) play, which is nice, and take a break. But I’m not moving here anytime soon.”
Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler have shared several snaps of themselves spending time together in the UK.
Fresh from guiding Penrith to their fourth consecutive premiership this season, Cleary is currently visiting Fowler at his home in England.
The couple have been seen enjoying a trip to the British coast.
Cleary, however, appears to have been enjoying his time visiting Fowler, and they are seen exploring Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
He posted a couple of photos of him and Fowler hiking along the coast and visiting a quaint town.
Fowler had taken to Instagram to mock Cleary last week after she took a photo of him looking through a camera with the lens still on the shutter.
Reacting to her Instagram post on Monday, Fowler wrote in the comments, “There’s my favorite model,” adding a camera emoji, a “heart face” emoji, and a fire emoji.
One of Cleary’s Penrith teammates, Brian To’o, also reacted to her post, writing: “Ahhh love always wins” with a heart emoji.
It comes as Rugby Australia has been urged to try and lure Cleary to cross codes.
Cleary’s contract with the Panthers expires in 2027, but former Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan said the sport should look to sign the Penrith playmaker.
The call comes after former Roosters star Joseph Suaalii crossed over from the NRL to join the Wallabies and has now been selected as part of Joe Schmidt’s squad to play in the Autumn Internationals.
“Joseph has already sparked enormous interest in rugby and has paid for himself time and time again,” McLennan said.
Cleary recently poured cold water on claims that he could join a team in the UK to be closer to Fowler.
The Penrith runner was also photographed exploring Manchester’s northern quarter.
Fowler and one of Cleary’s Penrith teammates, Brian To’o, commented on his Insta snaps.
Cleary also reacted to Fowler’s Instagram post, after he captioned the photos “Fun times.”
“He is a global rugby superstar before he even puts on a Wallaby jersey, and will be a wonderful role model for aspiring rugby players.”
‘The Wallabies’ poor performance over decades means they need investment at the top level to generate value in sponsorship, media rights and crowds.
“We haven’t had a World Cup since 1999, and a Bledisloe Cup for 23 years, so no further evidence is needed that the system needs an overhaul and centralisation.”
“He’d be having a chance with guys like Nathan Cleary and a few others,” McLennan said.
‘The game needs five more Josephs as the World Cup in ’27 is just around the corner and the clock is ticking… Thank God for Joseph, because that’s all everyone talks about.
“Australia is ranked number 10 in the world and needs an injection of talent or there will be nothing left to sell.”