Forget about ‘the rumours’. The relationship between Matildas star Mary Fowler and Penrith premiership hero Nathan Cleary is finally official.
After the Panthers co-captain was spotted in Perth at the last Matildas game on Sunday, the pair have now been caught on camera, enjoying the sunshine in the park, stretched out on the grass, and walking hand in hand.
Photographer Lain Gillespie from thewest.com.au caught the couple on camera near the Matildas hotel in Perth.
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Fowler was speaking to Cleary through the window of his black SUV after the pair had spent some intimate time together at Langley Park in Perth’s waterfront.
Cleary – who had previously been reluctant to admit he was in a relationship – had even peeled off his shirt as Fowler rested her head on his pecs.
They drank from the same water bottle as Cleary cuddled her in full view.
The intimate photos end months of speculation about their romantic involvement which first started when they were seen having an ice cream together during an adidas event.
That ice-cream date came to light in August this year as Australia was swept up in Matildas fever.
The Cleary camp originally poured cold water on the rumour but then another photo of them surfaced taking a walk along the Great River Walk at Tench Reserve.
That photo had been taken before the adidas event, but still more evidence was needed to actually confirm they were an item.
And evidence has been hard to come by with Cleary openly admitting he wants his private life to be exactly that.
Cleary is an NRL superstar, a triple premiership player, a New South Wales representative, and an Australian representative.
At Penrith, he is coached by his father, Ivan Cleary, who is also a former rugby league star..
At 25 he is already NRL royalty.
Fowler is only 20 and already one of Australia’s hottest football stars. Along with Sam Kerr, she is one of the biggest and most recognisable names in the Matildas line-up.
If ever there was a “power couple” in the Australian sporting landscape, this is one.
At a media event ahead of the NRL finals, Cleary said he was frustrated by the media attention on his private life — but did not deny he was in a relationship with Fowler.
“It is what is, (but) it’s a little bit annoying to not have a private life,” he said.
“But I like to not talk about it too much and keep anything I can private.
“Things take off pretty quick with social media but I’ll try to keep a private life if I can.”
But with interest in the couple sky-high, Cleary is going to find it very hard to this relationship out of the headlines.
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