Matty Johns' 'fear' for Nathan Cleary if NRL star makes move to England for Mary Fowler

Matty Johns admits he has concerns about losing Nathan Cleary to rugby union if the four-time NRL premiership winner did decide to move overseas to be closer to girlfriend, Mary Fowler. The Penrith halfback has previously suggested he could be tempted to play in England's Super League, in a move that would bring him closer to his superstar Matildas girlfriend, who plays for Manchester City.

Following the Panthers' fourth straight grand final triumph, speculation has only intensified that Cleary could decide to make a switch to the Super League so he can spend more time with Fowler, who spends the majority of her time in the UK and Europe. Cleary and father Ivan are signed to the Panthers until the end of 2027, but Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has expressed his hope they'll extend until at least 2030. Whether or not they'll stand in Nathan's way if he asks for a release to play in England remains to be seen though.

If a Super League club was able to tempt Cleary into a move overseas, it would be a huge coup for the sport in England but a massive blow for the NRL. And Johns says it reminds him of the situation with his famous brother and league Immortal Andrew Johns, who had an equally enormous standing in the game during his playing days and was also linked with a move overseas to play for a European rugby powerhouse.

Matty says Cleary has reached a similar level of global recognition as his brother and admits he's fearful that a massive European rugby club would inevitably try and lure the Panthers star to the 15-a-side code if he did move to England to play in the Super League. "There's been times in our game where our players have had a big standing internationally, such as European rugby and Andrew (Johns) was one of those." There was always the temptation of luring Andrew to rugby to take on Jonny Wilkinson," Johns said on on SEN's Morning Glory with Matty Johns.

Matty Johns fearful of losing Nathan Cleary to rugby

"My only fear with Nathan is him going to England puts him pretty much in the spotlight or basically he's right in the backyard of these big French rugby clubs and European rugby clubs. And there would be a temptation there (to poach him). Some of them (rugby clubs) would probably look to make a bid sooner rather than later, that's the only thing that would concern me."

Cleary has done just about everything in his league career before he's even turned 27, with four NRL premierships and a World Cup title amongst his extensive list of achievements. The one constant criticism of Cleary is the fact he is yet to dominate a State of Origin series in the same manner that many legends of the sport such as Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston did.

The Penrith co-captain admitted earlier this year that playing overseas is something he had thought about and that he would keep an "open mind" about in the future. "I'm not against it," Cleary said in February. "I have a pretty open mind to that kind of stuff. I think just being able to experience different cultures and different experiences is something I enjoy doing. I'm not closed off to that idea."

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Panthers CEO urges Mary Fowler to move back to Australia

But Panthers CEO Fletcher said this week that he's hopeful both Nathan and coach Ivan Cleary will commit to the NRL powerhouse long-term and even suggested Fowler should move back to Australia to be closer to her boyfriend. At the Panthers' fan day in Penrith on Wednesday, Fletcher was asked about the rumours Cleary might decide his future lies in England and ask for a release. But on multiple occasions he stated that Fowler might move back to Australia.

"It might be the other away around," Fletcher said in an interview with Channel 7. "Mary will come back here I'd say to be closer to him." He also told Channel 9: "That's CEO of the football department Matt Cameron's job to bring her back here permanently." Fletcher's comments initially appeared to be in jest, but his follow-up comments seemed quite genuine and sparked backlash from the football community.

Many critics pointed out that it would be unfathomable for Fowler to give up her career with one of the biggest teams in global sport to come back to Australia and play in the A-League Women's. It appears far more realistic that Cleary would move to England before Fowler comes back to continue her burgeoning football career in Australia.