Fresh speculation has emerged around the future of Nathan Cleary after a private family conversation triggered growing talk that the NRL superstar could be considering a move away from Sydney — a scenario that would carry major implications for the Penrith Panthers.
The Panthers halfback is understood to be weighing up life beyond his current base, with both personal and professional factors now shaping his long-term outlook. Central to the discussion is Cleary’s relationship with Matildas and Manchester City star Mary Fowler, with marriage reportedly part of the conversations taking place behind closed doors.
Cleary’s uncle, Josh Stuart, a former North Sydney Bears forward, has revealed he is actively working to convince the game’s premier player to consider joining Perth Bears franchise, which has made entry into the NRL. Stuart, now a mortgage broker and a trusted family confidant, said Cleary once sought his advice on marriage just six months into dating Fowler.
“It blew me away,” Stuart said. “That’s when I knew this was serious.”
Cleary and Fowler first met at an Adidas event in 2023 and have since navigated a demanding long-distance relationship, with Fowler based in Manchester and Cleary continuing his NRL career in Sydney. The challenges posed by time zones and frequent travel have only intensified speculation that relocation could eventually be on the table.
According to Stuart, Perth presents an appealing option — not just for football reasons, but also as a lifestyle compromise that could better support both athletes’ elite careers.
“I talk to Nathan a lot,” Stuart explained. “We talk about life, and he bounces things off me. He’s very thoughtful.”
Stuart, who played alongside Ivan Cleary during their time at the Bears in the 1990s, believes the Perth project represents a rare opportunity to build something historic. He has openly expressed his desire to lure both Nathan and his father to the new club.
“Getting Nathan would make the franchise real,” Stuart said. “Having Ivan as coach would be even better.”
Despite the growing noise, Nathan Cleary has consistently stated he is committed to Penrith for at least the next two seasons. However, he has acknowledged the challenges of maintaining a relationship across continents, admitting that he and Fowler are simply “making it work” for now.
With Fowler expected to remain in the UK for the foreseeable future, rumours of a future move — whether to Perth or even a potential switch to rugby union — continue to circulate. Ivan Cleary has already played down suggestions of any immediate change, stressing that such decisions would be well down the track.
“Nathan’s here for another two years,” Ivan said. “He’s a pretty open-minded kid, but that’s maybe something for the future.”
As Perth’s NRL ambitions gather momentum and family, love and legacy increasingly intersect with football, the prospect of the Cleary name returning to red and black is no longer being dismissed as mere fantasy.
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