Mary Fowler’s footy star boyfriend Nathan Cleary makes stunning return to NRL with insanely clutch moment

Nathan Cleary announced his return to the NRL in style, scoring a golden point field goal to lead Penrith to a 28-26 win over the Dolphins.

The Matildas’ friend and Manchester City superstar Mary Fowler played his first game since tearing his hamstring in May and proved his worth by making two saves for the Panthers when the game was on the line.

The halfback converted a game-clinching penalty from distance in the 75th minute and then slotted home a two-point field goal from 45 yards in the 81st minute.

The Panthers rested all five of their State of Origin players and performed well below their best in front of a crowd of 20,955 at BlueBet Stadium on Sunday.

But Cleary’s heroics bridged the cracks and prevented a potentially decisive victory for Wayne Bennett’s team over the reigning three-time championship side.

Cleary looked set to make a smooth return to the first division when he fed Sunia Turuva, before tapping the ball in off the post and then clearing a Dolphins grubber kick in the penalty area in the opening 10 minutes.

The only problem was that the rest of the Penrith team lacked the same intent as Bennett’s men charged upfield, through Tevita Pangai Jr.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow opened the scoring for the Dolphins with ease and after Liam Henry gave the ball away in his own half, Isaiya Katoa doubled the away side’s lead.

The gun halfback hit a golden point winning shot to beat the Dolphins

The football superstar is the boyfriend of Matildas and Man City star Mary Fowler

Paul Alamoti hit back for the Panthers and when Ray Stone stripped Mitch Kenny, Tabuai-Fidow was on the run for his second try, giving the Dolphins an 18-12 lead at half-time.

Tabuai-Fidow sent in Jack Bostock from the left corner early in the second half and the Dolphins opened up a 14-point lead when Jamayne Isaako converted a penalty in the 55th minute.

But instead of slacking off, Penrith began to show more cohesion and play with more energy to get the Dolphins back in the saddle.

First prop Moses Leota made his way to the ball, then substitute Daine Laurie entered the field after a scrum in the 63rd minute. Cleary’s conversion cut the Dolphins’ lead to just two points.

When Josh Kerr was sent to the penalty box for a foul on Trent Toelau, Cleary equalised with a penalty.

Incomprehensibly, Katoa failed to capitalise on his chance for a field goal in regulation time and Cleary made him pay for it by making the decisive move that delighted the home crowd.