The secret conversation that could mean that Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler are ready to get married – and why that is bad news for the Penith Panthers

Nathan Cleary Can the NRLThe most valuable player, but the biggest step of his career may not come from a rival club or a code switch – it can come from his own family.

Josh Stuart, Cleary’s Uncle and a former North Sydney Bears Vooruit, has unveiled a daring plan to lure the Penrith halfback to the new Perth Bears franchise.

With family ties, timing and even love on his side, Stuart believes West -Australia Perhaps the key to the future of Nathan Cleary.

‘Hundred percent do we want him, who would not want him? He is the best player in the game, “Stuart said News Corp.

Stuart played 29 games in the first class in the late nineties alongside Ivan Cleary, the father of Nathan,.

As a proud former Beer, Stuart has played an important role in collecting support for the NRL offer from Perth Bears – and now he openly campaigns to build a club that could get the biggest name of the game.

The 52-year-old is also a mortgage broker, and because of his business and family connections he regularly speaks with Nathan.

‘Nathan bounces a few things from me, only in life in general. I am a mortgage broker of trade, so I do his house and a few of the boys who are there, so we are talking a bit, “Stuart said.

But especially one conversation stood out.

“It blew me away. It would have been in their dating for six or eight months, he said, “Uncle Josh, when did you know you had in the right relationship to get married?” I knew we had something serious here, “Stuart revealed.

That ‘something serious’ is Nathan’s relationship with Matildas star Mary Fowler.

The high-profile sports pair met each other during an adidas event in 2023 and quickly developed a deep personal connection.

Fowler later said that their early exchanges were ‘section messages, just about the way we think about life’.

Since then, the couple has managed a long -distance relationship, where Fowler plays for Manchester City in the United Kingdom and Cleary leads the Penrith Panthers in Sydney.

In April 2024 they publicly confirmed their relationship, in which they shared moments on Instagram that fans caused delight and speculation about the future of Cleary.

Stuart sees Perth as the ideal middle ground for both love and inheritance.

“Is West -Australia much closer to England than Sydney?” He said, and noted that a flight from Perth-to-London cuts for about seven hours compared to Sydney.

For a few trying to balance Elite Sport and a relationship on continents, those hours were done. And for Stuart, that also applies to the possibility of building something historically in WA.

During a recent beer, footy and food festival in North Sydney Oval, Stuart shared good memories with fans of the Foundation Club, now reborn as a national offer.

But it is the future he is focused on – in particular the role of the Cleary family in this.

“Nathan would be unreal. His old man as a coach would be even better, “said Stuart.

“I play golf with Ivan on Wednesday, so I’ll have a chat.”

Panthers -Coach Ivan Cleary has already responded to rising speculation that his son could Leave the NRL To follow Fowler to England or even change code.

Tim Horan recently drove the idea on Rugby Heaven, which suggests that Nathan could wear the No. 10 Jersey in Rugby Union.

Ivan spoke to the conversation for the Penrithh match against the West Tigers.

“Nathan is here two more years, so he will be there,” he told reporters.

“Nath is a pretty open -minded boy, but that might be on the track, who knows?”

The experienced coach also rejected the pressure of the media attention.

“He doesn’t read too much media, so I don’t think he would be too busy,” he said.

Asked for a move to rugby, he answered with a smile: ‘I am sure he could play well. I don’t think he has ever played [rugby union].

“He should just avoid all the rucks, just kick and a goal kick and he would go well.”

Although Penrith remains convinced that they are retaining their superstar, the long -distance element of the relationship of Cleary speculation kept alive.

Fowler, one of the most tradable athletes in Australia, is located in the UK for the near future – and the idea of ​​moving to Perth wins by the hand.

“We’ll let it work,” said Cleary earlier this year.

Stuart believes that adding Nathan Cleary would immediately legitimize the franchise – and he is not afraid to say that.

‘Nathan is the kind of player who really makes a team. You don’t just start a club. You build a legacy – and what better way than with the Clearys in red and black weather? “He said.