NRL superstar Nathan Cleary would love to start a family with partner Mary Fowler

Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has given remarkable insight on the difficulties of being in a long distance relationship and why he would love to start a family with Matildas star Mary Fowler.

Nathan Cleary admits his long distance relationship with Mary Fowler can be tough but they have found a way to make it work and he would love to start a family with her one day.

The champion Penrith halfback has given a remarkable insight into how he and his Matildas and Manchester City star partner have navigated being so far apart.

“It’s been tough, it’s definitely not something that I ever thought I’d do. I think it sort of helped for us that as soon as we met each other, and we sort of got talking, we knew it was going to lead down to that path and if we wanted to do it, it was going to be long distance,” Cleary said on the Keegan and Company podcast.

While they are in no hurry to have kids, it’s something Cleary thinks about.

Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler enjoying a European getaway.

“It’s obviously tough that we are both pretty stuck into our sport … definitely want to in the future. I’d love for it to be with Mary, I just think she’d be the best mother but yeah, we’ll see. It’s not a rush at the moment but definitely in the future … post footy, I would love to have a little family of my own.”

Not having Fowler around after games is something Cleary finds particularly difficult.

“Sometimes you just get home and you want a little cuddle but I think it’s helped us in a way to connect on more than just (on) a physical level and actually have genuine conversations,” he said.

“We just navigate around it and when we do see each other, it’s the best thing ever. You are really grateful for those moments we get to spend together. We’re constantly talking on FaceTime or whatever and we sort of find our way through that.

“Constant communication is what works for us, we make a real emphasis on that. I think just compromise as well, you are not always going to love the same things I don’t think.

“The thing I’ve noticed about having a partner is I just want to make her happy and I want to her feel safe and feel like I’m there for her.”

Having a partner who is also in a high pressure environment is something Cleary thinks is a key to his strong relationship with Fowler because they get each other’s worlds.

An Instagram post by Mary Fowler showing catch-up video chats with Nathan Cleary. Picture: Instagram

“It is and she definitely understands … people look at us and think that we are talking about our sport all the time but sometimes it’s just nice to just sit there as two human beings and enjoy each other’s company and talk about something other than sport,” he said.

“I think probably for both of us, a lot of people want to talk about sport all the time and I think when we’re together, we just enjoy each other’s company but it’s always that support and trust that if something is going wrong we can talk to each other about it and sort of bounce ideas off each other, it’s been really nice.”

Keegan and Company podcast host, former NRL player Keegan Hipgrave, played a recorded message from Fowler on his phone.

“Hi babe, it’s Mazy (nickname) here, I’ve got a question to ask … ‘What would a perfect day look like for you?’”

Cleary had a chuckle before responding.

“It’s a good question, she’s a deep thinker, Mazy. A perfect day for me would be having a nice sleep, so I’m nice and refreshed. Getting up in the morning, taking a walk down to the beach with Mazy and my dog Prince. Just being able to sit there. There doesn’t have to be too much conversation, just enjoying each other’s company. Maybe writing down a journal and reading a bit of a book. Then I think it would be going for brekkie, somewhere on the beach.”

Originally published as NRL superstar Nathan Cleary would love to start a family with partner Mary Fowler