NRL news: Nathan Cleary opens up Mary Fowler romance, USA trip, brewery business, grand final glory
From his historic grand final heroics to being snapped with Matildas star Mary Fowler in Perth, Penrith star Nathan Cleary has had an unforgettable few months.
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It has been over two months since Nathan Cleary shone when the spotlight was at its brightest, inspiring Penrith to arguably the greatest grand final triumph in rugby league history.
But the Panthers star faced a glare of a different kind just a few weeks later when Cleary was photographed canoodling with Matildas star Mary Fowler under the Perth sun.
The paparazzi snaps of one of the biggest names in the NRL shirtless and cozy in a park with one of the biggest names in Australian soccer sent fans from both codes into a frenzy.
And while he politely declined questions about the nation’s newest sporting power couple, Cleary admitted the increased public interest in his personal life is foreign territory.
Even for someone destined for the limelight since his teens.
“Obviously it’s different from when I was young coming into first grade and people are dissecting my game. I hadn’t had that before,” Cleary said.
“That was a hurdle at the time. You start to learn to deal with that.”
But there are some familiarities to the jump in profile.
“It’s also pretty similar to (personal life). I haven’t had too many people look into my personal life. But it’s just what comes with it. It’s something that I can’t control,” he said.
“I just got to keep moving on and not read into it too much.”
Cleary is due to be in the UK when Penrith head to Wigan for the World Club Challenge on February 25 (AEDT) — a mere 30km from Fowler’s base in Manchester.
What chance we see him in the stands at a Women’s Super League game, just as he was when the Matildas played in Perth last month?
THE OFF-SEASON
Cleary moved on from his romantic rendezvous in Perth to Bali, where he joined a number of Panthers teammates at the wedding nuptials of second-rower Scott Sorensen.
And then he continued his sojourn to the United States, where he rubbed shoulders with NBA stars Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Maxey, as well as NFL great Todd Gurley.
“I had a little chat, nothing too crazy, because they were warming up at the time,” Cleary, a Philadelphia 76ers fan, said of stepping on the hardwood with Tatum and Maxey.
“It was pretty unbelievable, a crazy moment for me.
THE BREWERY
It’s not just on (and off) the field where Cleary has been kicking goals.
The 26-year-old recently celebrated his grand final heroics by releasing a special edition Drink West beer from his brewery also backed by UFC stars Tai Tuivasa and Tyson Pedro.
The western Sydney venue has revitalised what was once a nondescript industrial area a 10-minute drive away from BlueBet Stadium, into a thriving scene of new restaurants and cafes.
“I came into the (company) pretty late. Tai, Tyson and a couple of other guys behind the scenes had the plans for it early on and put a lot of work into it,” Cleary said.
“To see it come to life and turn into a brewery and what it is now, it’s pretty cool to be a part of. I’m just learning as I go but the space is only going to build for us.
“We want to be an area people want to go to.”
THE FAMILY
Cleary’s early business investments are symbolic of the impact the Cleary clan have had in the community since Nathan’s dad, Ivan, first moved the family to coach Penrith in 2012.
While the father-son duo spearheaded the best dynasty of the NRL era, daughter Indi is emerging as an influential real estate figure in Sydney’s west.
Then there’s Nathan’s 18-year-old brother, Jett, who is slowly developing through the Panthers’ junior nursery that has become the envy of the league.
This week Nathan and a troupe of Panthers players were greeted with a rock star reception by staff and patients at Nepean Hospital, where they handed out Christmas gifts.
The Clearys are now synonymous with the foot of the mountains.
“That’s what we love about the Penrith community. If you’re working hard and trying to do good things, people get behind you and support you,” Nathan said.
“That’s one of the best things about being out here. None of us were born out here, but we’ve immersed ourselves among the community and it feels like home to us now.”
The Clearys are now synonymous with the foot of the mountains.
THE BROTHER
With Luai yet to make a decision on his long-term future, nervous Panthers fans have already begun considering who could partner Nathan in the halves beyond next season.
And while the club has been successful in securing playmaking depth – Brad Schneider will be the latest to be the back-up next year – another Cleary is on the radar.
But Nathan has so far refused to entertain the possibility of playing with his little brother.
“I just want him to carve out his own path. He knows he’s still got a long way to go. I think he’s just trying to enjoy his footy,” Nathan said.
“He’s had a few injuries along the way so he just wants to be playing.
“It’s obviously a tough position for him with his dad and brother (at the club). I thought it was (tough) sometimes, growing up, with just dad (here).
“Now he’s got two, especially at the same club.
“I think sometimes he can feel a lot of pressure, so I just want him to have fun and work it out himself. I’m always there to support him if he needs it.”
THE FOURPEAT
Cleary, along with halves partner Jarome Luai, was part of the final batch of premiership-winning Panthers to return for pre-season last week.
He confirmed he has back at full training, having injured his knee in the opening stages of their famous grand final comeback, which added to his legendary performance.
He admitted he’ll have to play without a posterior cruciate ligament in his knee for the rest of his career – not uncommon for players in the modern era.
“The knee’s feeling good. I’ve got a resilience program to try and get strength around the muscles in around it,” he said.
“It’s just one of those things that I need to stay on top of. It’s like most muscles – you’ve got to keep them strong anyway with prehab, exercises.”
Having steered Penrith to the league’s first threepeat in over 30 years, a fresh Cleary has set his sights on a fourth straight title not achieved since St George’s famous run in 1960s.
“I got away for a fair bit, which was nice. Just refreshed,” he said.
“By the end of it, I was ready to come back. I needed a bit more of a routine and was keen to get back on the training field with the boys again.
“That’s how I usually know that I’ve done the off-season right.”
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