Nathan Cleary has delivered a huge revelation on rumours that he could leave Penrith Panthers and move to the Super League to be closer to his girlfriend and Manchester City star, Mary Fowler.
Fresh from leading Penrith Panthers to their fourth-straight NRL Grand Final victory last week, Cleary – who was wearing a Hull Kingston Rovers jersey – was in the house at Old Trafford on Saturday evening and appeared to be sat alongside Fowler.
The pair watched on as Wigan Warriors were crowned back-to-back Super League champions after beating Hull Kingston Rovers 9-2. It means Penrith will now take on Wigan in the Club World Challenge next year.
His appearance at Old Trafford comes amid huge speculation that the NRL superstar could move to the Super League in order to be closer to Fowler.
Aussie rugby league great and television personality Matty Johns was one who had spoken of his fears this week that clubs from around the Super League could look to poach the Penrith superstar.
Cleary, whose contract at Penrith is due to expire in 2027, appeared for an interview at half-time with Sky Sports Rugby League presenter Jenna Brooks.
Nathan Cleary has spoken out on the rumours linking him to a potential move to play rugby league in the United Kingdom
Cleary appeared to have travelled to the UK to spend time with his girlfriend Mary Fowler
Cleary stepped down to the touchline at half-time where he spoke out on Penrith’s Grand Final win and speculation linking him to a move to the Super League
The presenter talked through what’s been a huge week for the Penrith playmaker, but was keen to press him on his future in the NRL and whether the rumours over a potential move to the UK were true.
‘I have to ask, there’s been these persistent rumours and they’re just not going away that perhaps we might see you playing in Super League in the not too distant future given that Mary Fowler, you’re beautiful girlfriend is playing over here for Manchester City. So when can we see you in Super League – maybe Hull KR?’ Brooks asked.
Hull KR are coached by former Rabbitohs and Dragons star Willie Peters while one of Cleary’s close friends and former Penrith star Tyrone May started during the match.
But Cleary poured cold water on the rumours that he could leave the NRL and move to the UK.
‘Not any time soon, to be honest,’ Cleary told Sky Sports news. ‘I’ve seen all the rumours. But get to come over here and see her [Mary] play, which is nice and have a break.
‘But won’t be moving over here anytime soon.’
Cleary poured cold water on the speculation that he could move to the UK, claiming ‘I won’t be moving over here anytime soon’
Earlier in the week, Fowler had starred in Manchester City’s 2-0 win against Barcelona
His dad and coach Ivan Cleary hinted that the Penrith halfback could delay undergoing surgery on his injured shoulder to travel to the UK to spend time with Fowler.
Fowler also starred in Manchester City’s 2-0 victory against Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday.
She is also likely to be in action as Man City travel to Anfield on Sunday afternoon to take on Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.
The pair were spotted sitting together in the stands at Old Trafford before Cleary was brought down to the touchline to deliver an interview with Sky Sports.
The NRL star, who was interestingly sporting a Hull KR jersey, was introduced to the broadcast by Sky Sports’ Jenna Brooks as ‘Hull KR’s biggest fan.’
‘It’s great to be here, it’s a great atmosphere and a pretty good first-half,’ he said.
There had been much speculation that Cleary could move over to the UK to be closer to Fowler left
Reflecting on the celebrations after Penriths’ victory, Cleary revealed it had been a big week of celebrations before making the trip over to the UK.
‘It’s been great, a couple of big days. It honestly feels surreal still, so very grateful for what we’ve been able to do.
‘Now we get some downtime to just enjoy it and relax.’
Cleary is also a good friend of Hull KR’s Tyrone May, with the pair having played together at Penrith between 2017 and 2021.
He added: ‘I’m just here to support my best mate Tyrone May.
‘It was pretty harshly fought,’ he added on the first-half of the match. ‘Hull KR started to win the field position and Bevan French is a freak.
‘He just broke the game open and every time he touches the ball he looks pretty dangerous to be honest.’
Penrith stars celebrated their side’s fourth consecutive premiership victory this week, with Fowler also joining in on the celebrations from the UK.
Last weekend she posted a picture of herself online wearing a Penrith shirt while giving two thumbs up.
Cleary is travelling to the UK in the NRL off-season to visit his girlfriend Mary Fowler
The Matildas star only needed one word to show how overjoyed she was with her man’s incredible fourth premiership win in a row
Fowler had also posted a picture of herself celebrating the NRL Grand Final win by wearing a Penrith shirt
She had also posted a message to her boyfriend on her Instagram story, reposting a picture of him with the NRL premiership trophy, captioning the image: ‘Him’, before adding a ‘love eyes’ emoji and a ‘fire’ emoji.
Some had raised fears over his future playing in Australia though, with former rugby league player, Johns stating: ‘My only fear with Nathan is him going to England puts him pretty much in the spotlight or basically he’s right in the backyard of these big French rugby clubs and European rugby clubs,’ Johns said on his SEN program Morning Glory with Matty Johns on Friday.
‘And there would be a temptation there (to poach him). Some of them (rugby clubs) would probably look to make a bid sooner rather than later, that’s the only thing that would concern me.’
Cleary and his teammates stamped themselves as one of the greatest dynasties in the history of Australian sport with their 14-6 win over the Storm
Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that Nathan and Mary had began dating back in 2023.
They have since emerged as Australia’s leading sports duo and garner thousands of response from football and rugby league fans around the world for their posts on social media.
