Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler are pictured together for the first time as Aussie sport’s biggest romance heats up in Perth

EXCLUSIVE

NRL superstar Nathan Cleary and Matildas ace Mary Fowler were photographed making their romance public in Perth on Tuesday.

After Ny Breaking Australia exclusively revealed Cleary made a cross-country dash to watch Fowler and the Matildas play the Philippines on Sunday, images have now emerged of the duo spending time together in Highgate, near the city’s CBD.

Fowler and Cleary have been romantically linked since they were spotted together twice following the Matildas’ World Cup campaign.

The new images show a relaxed Fowler wearing a white singlet, shorts and sneakers, with her hair tied back and a cap.

The pair grabbed a takeaway coffee from a local cafe and were seen enjoying each other’s company and laughing, with an onlooker describing their interaction as ‘low-key but cute’.

“There was a man who recognized him and they shook hands and Mary laughed, then they were just laughing and walking very close to each other,” the passerby said.

Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary are pictured taking a stroll in Perth’s CBD on Tuesday in the first images of them spending time together

An onlooker described their interaction as ‘low-key but cute’ as the sports stars grabbed a cup of coffee and had a laugh in Highgate

“They were walking very close to each other,” the spectator said after spotting Fowler and Cleary, who were wearing knee braces after being injured in the NRL grand final.

The NRL star also liked a post Fowler made to Instagram on Monday – the first time he has made that move on social media.

The Panthers star was pictured with Fowler wearing a knee brace after suffering a suspected ligament tear early in the NRL grand final.

Despite the injury, he was able to carry the Panthers on his back and engineer a stunning come-from-behind win over the Brisbane Broncos, claiming a third straight premiership.

After big wins over Iran and the Philippines in their Olympic qualifiers in Perth, the Matildas will conclude their tour of Australia with a match against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.

Fowler posted a series of images from those qualifiers, which were loved by a host of teammates and fellow athletes, including Cleary.

The new development comes after Cleary traveled across the country to support Fowler in Perth on Sunday in what was the biggest sign of a romantic bond between the pair before these images emerged.

He was photographed with two Matildas fans outside Optus Stadium just before the Aussies’ 8-0 win, with Fowler scoring the opening goal.

Matildas supporter Annie Lewin shared Cleary’s photo with the caption ‘stupid for the tillies’.

Nathan Cleary also liked an Instagram post that Fowler made on Monday – the first time he’s taken that step on social media

Fowler’s star is on the rise with a key role in attack for the Matildas and a contract with Manchester City

Cleary would have played for Australia on Saturday had he not injured his knee in the NRL grand final. He skipped watching his Australian teammates to instead travel to support Fowler

Cleary and Fowler first attracted attention as a potential couple after being spotted together twice following the Women’s World Cup.

Initial sightings included a leisurely stroll along the Nepean River in Penrith, where the 25-year-old NRL sensation and the 20-year-old Matildas forward were first spotted spending time together.

They were also spotted sharing ice cream after a promotional event hosted by Adidas, a brand that both athletes endorse.

Fowler will be a big part of the Matildas attack when they take on Chinese Taipei on Wednesday night at HBF Park Stadium in Perth, which is within walking distance of where she was spotted with Cleary on Tuesday.