Nathan Cleary makes his most romantic statement ever on his relationship with Mary Fowler: ‘It’s everything I could have dreamed of’

NRL superstar Nathan Cleary has opened up about his relationship with Matilda Mary Fowler after months of investigation, assumptions and even false claims that the pair are engaged.

Since Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed the sporting superstars were an item, the power couple has not been thrust into the spotlight by any other sporting couple in Australia’s history.

Cleary has spoken about his involvement in a car chase with pursuing photographers, and has been accused of deliberately taking off his shirt because he knew the cameras were watching and the pressure being in the public eye has put on the young couple.

When a media outlet published an article claiming they were engaged, teammate Brian To’o took the ball and ran with it by boldly “confirming” they were getting married.

Most recently, the rumor mill has linked Cleary to a move to England in 2025 to be closer to his love.

Cleary and Fowler have become Australia’s hottest sporting couple since Daily Mail Australia revealed they were an item in 2023

But what has life really been like for the couple behind closed doors? Cleary opened on Channel Nine Marlee and I podcast about the impact Mary had made on his life.

“I loved it, it’s everything I could have ever dreamed of having a partner, to be honest,” he said.

“It’s just added a new perspective, but it’s also added an extra layer: when things go well, you want to share it with them and talk about it, and when things don’t go well, they’re there too.

‘Super supportive and I absolutely loved it. It’s just a great addition to life to be honest and it’s made me very happy.

‘Love conquers.’

Marlee from the Channel Nine Marlee and Me podcast asked Cleary what their relationship was really like

Cleary, pictured with his dog Prince, spoke fondly of the influence Mary has had on his life since they became an item last year

Cleary also admitted that he tried to protect Mary from the intense media attention.

Although the 26-year-old Penrith star had the media training and experience to deal with the constant attention, he admitted he was concerned about the impact it would have on 21-year-old Fowler who burst onto the scene during the FIFA Women’s 2023. World Cup.

‘I probably felt more sorry for her [Mary] to be honest. “She is younger than me and after the World Cup she became quite a public figure and it all happened so quickly,” he said.

‘Her relationship is in the public eye. It’s hard to wrap your head around it, but we talked about it and said just control the things we can control.

‘Just live life as normally as possible.’

Cleary said he felt he had to protect Mary from the media because of her age and because she didn’t have much experience after bursting onto the scene at the 2023 World Cup.

Now Cleary takes the same approach to his relationship as he does to his football

Now Cleary approaches his personal life with the same steely determination and patience to play the long game that he has applied to his football career, which has already produced three NRL premierships and a grand final appearance in 2024.

When Marlee asked what his next achievement could be after so much success, he talked about his methodical approach to football and how it helped him become a better partner in his relationship with Mary.

“When you say next performance, it’s probably not so much my mentality,” he said.

‘It’s more about small victories within myself. I think that’s part of looking forward to the next thing.

“It’s the next day for me, it’s the next day of how can I be a better person, how can I be a better player, how can I just get better?”

“It’s probably a mentality that I have a lot: finding ways to get better. It often involves small incremental gains over a long period of time. They turn to big profits.

“That’s my mentality rather than so many accolades or achievements.”

‘That’s just as good off the field as on it. I really believe that if you improve yourself as a person, it will also be reflected in your football.’