Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary have become one of Australian sport’s most closely followed couples, but their relationship is attracting fresh attention for reasons far removed from red carpets and social media posts.
Fowler has withdrawn from the Matildas’ October international window because of personal circumstances, while Cleary is recovering from serious injuries that required operations on both legs.
The timing has inevitably put their relationship back in the spotlight, particularly after Cleary publicly thanked Fowler while accepting the biggest individual honour of his NRL career.
Despite careers that normally keep them on opposite sides of the world, the football and rugby league stars continue to publicly support each other through major professional and personal moments.
Fowler Withdraws
Football Australia announced on October 6 that Fowler had been withdrawn from the Matildas squad following discussions involving the player, Manchester City and national-team staff.
The governing body described the reason only as “personal circumstances” and did not provide further details.
Fowler was due to be involved in Australia’s friendlies against Germany in Karlsruhe on October 9 and Haiti in Chambly, France, on October 13.
Charlton Athletic midfielder Leah Davidson was called into the squad as her replacement.
Australian media reports subsequently linked Fowler’s absence to a return to Sydney as Cleary recovers from his injuries. However, that explanation has not been publicly confirmed by Football Australia as the official reason for her withdrawal.
Cleary’s Injury
Cleary’s recovery follows a brutal end to his 2026 NRL campaign.
The Penrith Panthers halfback suffered a compound fracture to his left leg during the preliminary final defeat to Newcastle and required immediate surgery.
He had already been dealing with a fracture in his other foot before entering the game.
The NRL has since reported that the Panthers star required surgery on both legs. Penrith has indicated that his recovery could potentially allow him to return during the opening rounds of the 2027 season, although that will depend on how rehabilitation progresses.
The injuries also ruled him out of Australia’s Rugby League World Cup campaign.
For a player accustomed to controlling games from the middle of the field, the immediate reality has instead involved surgery, limited mobility and a lengthy rehabilitation program.
Dally M Moment
Cleary still finished 2026 with one of the biggest achievements of his career.
The 28-year-old won his first Dally M Medal, finishing the count on 67 points, 14 ahead of Cronulla’s Braydon Trindall.
Unable to attend the ceremony because he was recovering at home, Cleary delivered a recorded acceptance message.
Among the people he thanked was Fowler.
The acknowledgment provided a rare public glimpse into the support behind their relationship during a difficult period for the Panthers playmaker.
Fowler also publicly celebrated his achievement on social media, adding another personal moment to a relationship that the pair have generally tried to manage on their own terms.
Sporting Worlds
Their relationship brings together two athletes operating in very different sporting environments.
Fowler plays for Manchester City in England, while Cleary is based in Sydney with the Penrith Panthers.
That creates a demanding long-distance arrangement spanning roughly half the globe and two elite sporting calendars.
Fowler recently committed her future to Manchester City with a contract running until the summer of 2027. The Australian attacker has developed into an important part of the English club and was selected in the PFA Women’s Super League Team of the Year for her 2024-25 performances.
Cleary, meanwhile, remains one of the central figures at Penrith after years of extraordinary success with the Panthers.
Their schedules mean opportunities to spend extended periods together can be limited by club matches, international duties, training and travel.
How It Started
The pair’s story stretches back to 2023, when they met through an Adidas promotional event in Sydney.
Their early interactions gradually developed into a relationship, with interest intensifying after they were seen together publicly.
By early 2024, there was little doubt about their status after Fowler shared a photograph featuring Cleary on Instagram.
Since then, both have occasionally offered glimpses into their life together without turning the relationship into the central focus of their public identities.
Fowler has previously spoken about the deeper conversations that helped them connect, while Cleary has also discussed navigating the enormous public interest surrounding the relationship.
Distance Challenge
Their geographical separation remains one of the most unusual aspects of the partnership.
Manchester and Sydney are separated by thousands of kilometres, meaning a casual weekend visit is rarely practical.
Both also have careers in which recovery, training schedules and match preparation can make international travel difficult.
Speculation has periodically surrounded whether Cleary could eventually play rugby league in England, which would place him much closer to Fowler.
For now, however, such suggestions remain speculation rather than a confirmed career move.
Fowler’s Manchester City deal extends through 2027, while Cleary’s immediate priority is recovering sufficiently to resume his NRL career.
Mary’s Career
Fowler’s absence from the October internationals comes during an important period for the Matildas.
Australia is building towards the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the matches against Germany and Haiti were selected to expose the squad to contrasting opponents.
The Matildas officially described the fixtures as part of their World Cup preparations.
Fowler remains an important attacking option for Australia, capable of operating across several advanced positions.
Her development at Manchester City has also continued. The club confirmed in 2026 that she had signed her new deal after establishing herself among the Women’s Super League’s prominent attacking talents.
Nathan’s Recovery
Cleary faces a very different challenge over the coming months.
Instead of preparing for another match, his focus is now on recovering from significant injuries to both legs.
The Panthers have received encouraging early news following his operations, but rehabilitation from such injuries will necessarily be carefully managed.
His Dally M victory at least provided an extraordinary conclusion to a season that ended painfully on the field.
Winning the medal for the first time also underlined the level at which Cleary had performed before injury intervened.
Together Apart
Fowler and Cleary’s relationship has always required them to balance two major sporting careers with extraordinary travel demands.
The events of recent weeks have placed that challenge in sharper focus.
Cleary is beginning a lengthy rehabilitation after surgery, while Fowler has stepped away from the Matildas’ October camp because of personal circumstances.
What is officially known remains limited, and Fowler’s privacy around the reason for her withdrawal should be distinguished from media reports about her movements.
What is public is the support the couple have shown each other.
Cleary’s Dally M acceptance message offered the latest example, with Fowler receiving a personal thank-you during one of the biggest moments of his career.
For two athletes usually separated by Manchester and Sydney, their latest chapter shows how their relationship continues alongside two demanding careers at the highest level of Australian sport.
FAQs
Are Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary still together?
Yes. Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary remain in a relationship and have continued to publicly support each other despite living primarily in different countries.
When did Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary start dating?
Their relationship developed during 2023, after they met through an Adidas event in Sydney. Their romance became publicly established in early 2024.
Why did Mary Fowler withdraw from the Matildas squad?
Football Australia said Fowler withdrew from the October 2026 international window because of “personal circumstances.” It did not publicly disclose further details.
