Mary Fowler Has Transformed Nathan Cleary—And That Could Spell Trouble for the Rest of the NRL…

Nathan Cleary is heading into the 2025 NRL season with a fully recovered shoulder—and a heart full of love.

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Laugh if you will, but his growing romance with Matildas and Manchester City star Mary Fowler might just be making the game’s best player even better.

At 27, Cleary has already achieved just about everything in rugby league: four straight premierships with Penrith, five consecutive grand finals, and a decorated representative career with NSW and Australia. And who’s to say he and the Panthers won’t make it five in a row by October?

As Penrith prepares to kick off its title defense in Las Vegas in just two weeks, Cleary will take the field at Allegiant Stadium after a successful off-season shoulder surgery. Injuries aside, his consistency has been a defining trait. But in the past year, something has changed—and the rest of the NRL should take notice.

Cleary is happier and more content than ever away from the game, thanks in large part to his relationship with Fowler. Despite living on opposite sides of the globe, the couple is making it work. Cleary visited Europe after last season to be with her, she returned to Australia for Christmas, and the two recently shared photos from a romantic getaway in the Whitsundays.

“It’s always nice to have something to look forward to after a game, and seeing her on FaceTime,” Cleary says. “We don’t really talk about footy much. She’s still learning about it—she never watched it before. The only player she knew was [North Queensland legend] Johnathan Thurston.

“She makes me happy, and that definitely helps—she’s super supportive, and that’s what I love about her.”

The Link Between Happiness and Performance

Sports psychologists have long pointed out that an athlete’s happiness off the field has a direct impact on their performance on it.

Paul Penna, a leading Sydney sports psychologist who has worked with NRL clubs, Olympic teams, and the GWS Giants, explains:

“When an athlete is in a healthy relationship, it helps them maintain perspective about what truly matters in life.

“They realize relationships and connection are more important than a premiership ring or a trophy. Mary wouldn’t just provide Nathan with support, but also a necessary distraction from football. Whether he has a good or bad game, or a tough training session, he can jump on the phone and just be happy with her.

“When you hear Nathan talking about FaceTiming Mary after a match—that’s perspective. That’s her being his anchor. That’s powerful.

“And since Mary is a professional athlete herself, she knows exactly what kind of relationship she’s in.”

The Pursuit of Perfection

When asked if life can get any better, Cleary smiles.

“It could. Nothing is ever perfect. You’re always chasing happiness—whatever that means,” he says.

“But I do believe that when things are good off the field, you usually play well on it. And I definitely feel that way right now.

“I’m grateful for everything—my relationships, not just with Mary, but with my family, friends, and teammates. I want to keep moving forward while I can. When I’m old and retired, I’ll look back on these glory days.

“Mary is great at planning ahead. She has a vision for the future. I’m the opposite—I prefer to just enjoy life right now.”

And love is in the air at Penrith. Off-season weddings for Dylan Edwards and Luke Garner, plus recent engagements for Liam Martin and Liam Henry, have the Panthers buzzing.

For Cleary, though, his focus is clear: a fifth straight premiership, a healthy body—and a happiness that just might make him even more dangerous in 2025.