‘Rack off’: Ch 10 slammed for Nathan Cleary antics amid Mary Fowler’s Matildas heroics

All eyes were on Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary after the power couple went public, but fans weren’t happy with the Matildas star’s treatment.

Matildas fans have criticised Channel 10 for the broadcaster’s treatment of Mary Fowler during the Matildas’ 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Wednesday night.

After a frustrating first half, the Matildas scored three goals in the second half to wrap up three victories in the space of a week in Perth to cap off a sensational 2023.

The result sees the Aussies finish on top of Group A in the Asian confederation’s qualifying for next year’s Paris Olympics.

They are set to avoid World No. 8 Japan and will take on Uzbekistan in a two-legged playoff in February in a bid to book their place in the Olympics.

Fowler broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute when she unleashed a sensational strike from the edge of the box that cannoned into the top right corner.

It was the high point of the match that turned the contest in Australia’s favour, opening the floodgates as Sam Kerr and Tameka Yallop scored two more goals.

So fans were frustrated when Ten’s cameras panned to none other than Nathan Cleary, who was watching on in the crowd at Perth’s HBF Stadium.

Fowler and Cleary went public with their budding romance before the game on Wednesday, in pictures that had Aussie sporting fans heralding a new power couple.

Mary Fowler was on fire for the Matildas. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

Nathan watches on in the crowd in Perth. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

But viewers weren’t happy Channel 10 didn’t give Fowler her moment to shine, especially given the class of the goal she just scored.

One fan posted on X: “Fowler needs all the screen time for that goal, not Nathan Cleary, please Channel 10.”

A second said: “Rack off Channel 10/Para we ain’t doing a Fowler/Cleary lovefest.”

Another commented: “Stop showing nathan cleary, mary fowler is a star on her own and in her own right. Let her have her moment without showing his face. Who she is dating should have nothing to do with this game.”

Fowler’s goal was the best moment of the game. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Plenty of fans poked fun at the scenes, joking that Fowler “put Cleary on the map”, comparing them to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance that has taken the NFL by storm.

One joked: “Nathan Cleary has officially put Mary Fowler on the map.”

Another said: “It has been noted that nathan cleary was caught sitting after Fowler’s goal.”

Mary Fowler GOAL, camera operator at the game turns the camera onto Nathan Cleary 😂😂 #AUSvTPE

— denni egan (@dennije24) November 1, 2023

There was no shortage of cutaway shots of Cleary in the crowd, and there was a sweet moment before the start of the second half when Fowler saw the Panthers star on the big screen and beamed as she laughed with teammates.

Fowler wasn’t asked about Cleary in her post-game interview with Channel 10 or in the press conference.

The 20-year-old has already scored 13 goals for Australia. She will now return to England to continue her Super League season with Manchester City, who are equal top on the table with Kerr’s Chelsea after four games.

Cleary, who led Penrith to their third NRL premiership in a row, is recovering from a knee injury suffered in the Grand Final win that ruled him out of playing for the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championship.