A private conversation between Nathan Cleary and his uncle has ignited speculation that the NRL star could soon be headed west—and not just for football.
The Penrith Panthers halfback is reportedly contemplating a future beyond Sydney, driven by both personal and professional motivations, and it could involve marriage to Matildas star Mary Fowler.
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Josh Stuart, a former North Sydney Bears forward and Cleary’s uncle, has revealed he’s working behind the scenes to lure the NRL’s top player to the Perth Bears, a new franchise vying for inclusion in the league.
Stuart, a trusted family confidant and now a mortgage broker, disclosed that Nathan once asked him, just six months into dating Fowler, how he knew when it was time to marry his partner.
“It blew me away,” Stuart said. “That’s when I knew this was serious.”
Cleary and Fowler met at an Adidas event in 2023 and have maintained a long-distance relationship since, with Fowler based in Manchester and Cleary in Sydney.
The time zone and travel burdens have led many to wonder if a relocation could be on the cards. According to Stuart, Perth is not only a closer hub to England but also the ideal location for the couple to balance their elite sporting careers.
“I’m a mortgage broker, so I talk to Nathan a lot,” Stuart said. “We talk about life, and he bounces things off me. He’s very thoughtful.”
Stuart, who played alongside Ivan Cleary—Nathan’s father—at the Bears in the 1990s, sees an opportunity to build a legacy. He hopes to entice both Nathan and Ivan to join the Perth Bears project.
“Getting Nathan would make the franchise real,” Stuart said. “Having Ivan as coach would be even better. I’m playing golf with him Wednesday, so I’ll have a chat.”
While Nathan Cleary has publicly stated he’s committed to Penrith for the next two years, he admits he and Fowler are “making it work” across continents. But the strain of long-distance love is evident.
Fowler’s presence in the UK for the foreseeable future adds fuel to the fire that Cleary could eventually make a move—whether to Perth, or perhaps even to rugby union.
Ivan Cleary has already dismissed suggestions of an imminent code switch, saying:
“Nathan’s here for another two years… he’s a pretty open-minded kid but that’s down the track, maybe.”
With Perth’s bid gaining momentum, and family and relationship dynamics intertwining with football, the idea of the Clearys donning red and black again is no longer a fantasy.
“You don’t just start a club—you build a legacy,” Stuart said. “And what better way than with the Clearys.”
