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Panthers boss angers football world with claim about Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary's future

The comments have been branded 'delusional' and 'embarrassing'.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·5-min read

Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has copped backlash from the soccer community after suggesting Mary Fowler should move back to Australia to be closer to Nathan Cleary. Rumours have been circulating for months that Cleary is considering switching from the NRL to the English Super League so he can spend more time with girlfriend Fowler, who plays for Manchester City in the top league of women's soccer.

Fowler spends the majority of her time in the UK and Europe, which is part and parcel of being one of the top female players in world soccer. But it means she gets to spend very little time with Cleary during the NRL season when he's plying his trade for the Panthers.

Brian Fletcher alongside Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary.
Brian Fletcher reckons Mary Fowler will move back to Australia to be closer to Nathan Cleary. Image: AAP/Instagram

But the NRL star has now won four premierships with Penrith, and there's very little left for him to achieve in Australia. He's previously admitted he's open to playing in the Super League one day, and will jet off to England this week to spend some time with Fowler.

Mary Fowler, pictured here in action for Manchester City.
Mary Fowler plays for Manchester City in the top league of women's soccer. (Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)

At the Panthers' fan day in Penrith on Wednesday, Fletcher was inevitably 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 interview with Channel 7 was dead serious. And as many in the soccer community are pointing out, it's almost unfathomable that Fowler would give up her career with one of the biggest teams in global sport to come back to Australia and play for the Western Sydney Wanderers or any other team in the A-Leagues.

It appears far more feasible that Cleary will be playing in England before Fowler is playing in Australia. Veteran soccer commentator Ray Gatt wrote on social media on Wednesday: "Seriously Penrith….trying to convince Mary Fowler to come back to Sydney so they can keep Nathan Cleary playing league? Not going to happen! Mary has her own fantastic career to look forward to!"

Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary.
Mary Fowler is based in England, while Nathan Cleary lives in Penrith. Image: Instagram
Nathan Cleary, pictured here with Panthers teammates at the Penrith fan day.
Nathan Cleary with Panthers teammates at the Penrith fan day. (AAP Image/Steven Markham)

Another person wrote: "She has her whole career ahead of her, why would she give that up? She could be an international star. All for some dude who plays a sport most of the world has never heard of."

Others described Fletcher's comments as "delusional" and 'embarrassing", while another joked: "Penrith Beach or St Tropez? Tough decision." A fourth person commented: "Small sport mentality. She has the whole world to play in. He’s got essentially three states and NZ. She ain’t moving to Penrith."

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Cleary and father Ivan are signed to the Panthers until the end of 2027, but 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.

He admitted earlier this year: "I'm not against it. 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."