Why two of Australia’s biggest sporting stars are posting each other messages of love and support

Caitlin Cassidy explains it to Jordyn Beazley
·3-min read
<span>Power couple: Matildas star Mary Fowler and Penrith premiership player Nathan Cleary have the sports world talking about their wholesome social media posts.</span><span>Composite: The Guardian/AAP Image</span>
Power couple: Matildas star Mary Fowler and Penrith premiership player Nathan Cleary have the sports world talking about their wholesome social media posts.Composite: The Guardian/AAP Image

Caitlin, I don’t usually pay much attention to celebrity romances. But please, tell me about the Australian sports couple who has everyone talking.

You’re not alone on that one, Jordyn. Ordinarily, nothing interests me less than the love lives of two famous people I have never met.

Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler, though, are just … different. It’s just hard not to love them.

J’adore love. But what is it about this particular romance that’s so special?

Firstly, they are both extremely successful athletes in their own right.

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Cleary, 26, is a star halfback for the Penrith Panthers and two-time winner of the Clive Churchill medal.

And Fowler, 21, is one of Australia’s most beloved football players, having shot to stardom after her stellar performance in last year’s World Cup.

So when the public discovered they were dating, there was a lot of frantic excitement – from NRL fans to old-school romantics.

Cleary and Fowler were rumoured to be an item for months before they went Instagram official in April. But in recent weeks they’ve really stepped up their affection for each other online, and it is extremely wholesome.

That is a serious power couple. I’m intrigued! Are the fans also swooning?

Oh, they are swooning, alright. Especially when Cleary and Fowler both had huge sporting wins at the weekend.

Please tell me there was some sort of declaration of love after the Panthers’ grand final victory over Melbourne Storm?

There sure was. Fowler posted a picture of Cleary holding the grand final trophy, with a caption that simply said “Him”. It was followed by a love heart eyes emoji and a fire emoji. It’s Jane Austen-level romance for the digital age.

Fowler, because she is also busy being a sports superstar, couldn’t make the grand final game because she was in the UK playing for Manchester City in the Women’s Super League.

Fowler both scored and assisted in her game against West Ham, played minutes after the NRL grand final, in a huge night for the rising star.

She posted a series of photos of her and her teammates celebrating their 2-0 win on Sunday. And the last photo – wait for it – was of Fowler proudly wearing a Panthers’ jersey with her thumbs up.

But wait, that’s not it! Cleary later shared the photo of his girlfriend in her Panthers merch to his own story, thereby sending the internet into a howling love-filled frenzy.

Cupid did well. Shall we leave them alone now to love each other in peace?

I mean, we live in the age of social media and people being chronically online – including me writing this explainer – so I don’t think they are ever going to be left in peace.

But we can certainly leave Cleary to celebrate the Panthers becoming the first team in 58 years to win four consecutive premierships.

Judging by how he gushed about Fowler on Nine’s Marlee and Me podcast, I think they’ll be sticking around for awhile.

In the words of the great man himself: “Love wins.”