Why people shouldn’t be worried about Mary Fowler

Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary seem to be actually dating but there’s a wild concern that we need to address immediately.

OPINION

Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary are dating, and we should all be allowed to be thrilled about it because it has been a long year, and we deserve it.

Everyone’s a bit excited because Fowler, 20, a fan favourite player in the Matildas squad and Cleary, 25, who, according to Google, plays for the Penrith Panthers, are hooking up.

They are both young, hot, extremely talented and charming as a couple. Honestly, they look like Love Island contestants.

The famous relationship seems to be very on.

There were even some recent photos of them in a park that looked straight out of a scene from a romantic novel you’d pick up from the airport for a concerning $35.

But as soon as whispers about Fowler and Cleary’s romance emerged there’s been lots of conversation from people worrying that Fowler will become defined by this relationship.

Nathan Cleary plays for the Panthers. Picture: NRL Imagery

Mary Fowler plays for the Matildas. Picture Lachie Millard

We will all forget she’s an incredible athlete, and all she’ll be known as is the girlfriend of the rugby player.

You’d only have to see Fowler play to realise that is impossible.

Recently she was vital in helping the Matildas secure a win over Chinese Taipei. 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.

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.

Sure, fans were left 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 needs all the screen time for that goal, not Nathan Cleary, please Channel 10,” someone tweeted.

It wasn’t his moment; it was hers, but this shows that their relationship is new more than anything else. It is a novelty to see Clearly in the stands cheering his new girlfriend on.

Mary doing what she does best. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

Taylor has been stealing the show. Picture: David Eulitt / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Currently, Taylor Swift is upstaging her new boyfriend, Chiefs player Travis Kelce, at his NFL games. Her reactions to his games are going viral online, but that doesn’t detract from his shine or skill.

After that win, I don’t think anyone watching the game was talking about Cleary, and if they stay together, the less noteworthy his appearances in the crowd will be.

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

If Fowler was dating a regular guy, no one would care about his reaction to her goal but he is famous and I’m sorry, but by design that is exciting.

If your cousin brought home a Hemsworth for Christmas lunch you’d be excited. It is natural.

Still, just because she’s dating someone famous and people are excited about that doesn’t mean she’s going to be sidelined.

Nathan is very active on Instagram. Picture: Instagram

Mary looking gorgeous. Picture: Instagram

I do get the concern, though; it is a reasonable worry. I think it would have been more valid 12 months ago when Fowler wasn’t one of the most famous women in the country and one of the most beloved athletes Australia has ever produced.

In 2023, Fowler is arguably the bigger star of the two, with more widespread recognition, especially among women and people outside of the NRL-loving states.

She’s the famous striker who helped lead the Matildas into a historic fourth place in Women’s World Cup at a ridiculously young age.

So far, Cleary is acting more like a WAG than she is. He has been spotted in the crowds supporting her play, which is very hot of him; let’s face it: supporting women is probably the sexiest thing ever.

Nathan loves posting about his dog. Picture: Instagram

Mary is an incredible striker. Picture: Instagram

If we could just stop being serious for a second, I reckon we could enjoy this Aussie couple for what they are. The fact they are dating is fascinating because it is a pop culture crossover that makes complete sense.

It’d be like if Shannon Noll dated Michelle Bridges in the early 2000s. Sure, they are from different worlds, but the match would have had a strange logic to it. At the end of the day, they are just two people who like wearing singlet tops.

Same with Fowler and Cleary, sure, they play different sports but ultimately they are just two people that love kicking a ball.

Everyone’s very excited because it is the first significant Australian celebrity couple we’ve been able to be excited about in ages.

I think we are all so exhausted by the Michael Clarke and Jade Yarbrough cycle that no one even cares if they are dating anymore, and yes, Delta got engaged to some guy named Matthew Copley, but he isn’t famous.

Copley does bear an uncanny resemblance to Matt Corby, but they aren’t related, I’ve already some done the detective work to confirm that hard truth.

I don’t want to get anyone too excited but they could be the next Hewitts. Picture:AAP Image/David Crosling

Robert Irwin with girlfriend Rorie Buckey. Pictures: Instagram

Yes, Robert Irwin is dating Heath Ledger’s niece, Rorie Buckey, but she’s not a public person either.

We haven’t had a power couple like this since Lleyton Hewitt and Bec Hewitt, and their relationship didn’t dim the celebrity light of either. It just made them both more famous and I don’t think we’ve been treated to the same love standard since.

I understand the concerns, but I think we can all enjoy the cuteness of Fowler and Cleary.

We started the year watching Clarke limp around Noosa Park barefoot, begging for Yarbrough’s forgiveness, and we can end it by enjoying the sweetness of this wholesome, budding romance.

Originally published as Why people shouldn’t be worried about Mary Fowler