Nathan Cleary photo sends fans into frenzy over detail around Mary Fowler's Matildas teammate

Nathan Cleary has cemented his place in the Matildas family, with a photo emerging on social media showing him holding the daughter of Mary Fowler's teammate Katrina Gorry. Cleary has returned home to Sydney and is set to undergo shoulder surgery, after a trip to the UK and Europe to visit girlfriend Fowler.

The Penrith Panthers star was supposed to undergo surgery immediately after the NRL grand final, but was given a window to travel overseas because his surgeon was on holidays. He made the most of the opportunity to spend some quality time with Fowler, who is playing for Manchester City in England's Women's Super League.

And a photo posted by Gorry on the Instagram page dedicated to her kids shows Cleary was in attendance for the Matildas' recent game in Germany. Amongst a handful of photos updating the last few weeks is one of Cleary holding Gorry's daughter Harper after the game.

The photo immediately sent Matildas fans into a frenzy, with many saying it shows he's built a relationship with Fowler's teammates and their families, and is getting very serious about his girlfriend. One fan wrote: "Love that Nathan is there too with Harper and the Tillies family. Harper looks very happy."

Another commented: "Nice that Nathan is getting involved in the Tillies family. He needs to get the tick from the family before he gets serious with Fowler. Looks like he’s well on the way there."

Will Nathan Cleary move to England to be with Mary Fowler?

Cleary's budding relationship with Fowler has sparked persistent rumours that he might be eyeing off a move to the Super League in England to be closer to her. As it currently stands, Fowler spends a large chunk of the year in the UK due to her commitments with Manchester City.

Fowler is at the start of her career and is developing into one of the best players in women's football, meaning her future lies in the top leagues of England or Europe. Cleary has now won four-straight NRL premierships with the Panthers, and is more likely to move to England than Fowler is to come home to Australia.

Cleary was in attendance for the Super League grand final between Wigan and Hull earlier this month, and was asked about the speculation. Sky Sports presenter Jenna Brooks asked: "There's been these persistent rumours and they're just not going away that perhaps we might see you playing in Super League in the not-too-distant future given that Mary Fowler, your beautiful girlfriend is playing over here for Manchester City. So when can we see you in Super League - maybe Hull KR?"

However, Cleary emphatically put the speculation to bed, saying he wasn't interested in leaving the NRL "anytime soon". He added: "I've seen all the rumours. But get to come over here and see her [Mary] play, which is nice and have a break. But (I) won't be moving over here anytime soon."

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That came after Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher copped backlash from the football community for suggesting Fowler would come back to Australia before Cleary moves to England. But he later hit back, saying: "It was light-hearted. We've got Nathan and Ivan signed up till the end of '27 and it's our job – or my job – to try to extend that out as far as we can to keep them both at the foot of the mountains until their rugby league days are over. It'd take a lot of speculation out of it if she (Fowler) did come home, but that's between her and Nathan and we don't interfere in those matters."