Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary spotted playing footy together

Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary have been spotted hanging out just days before Christmas in heart-melting photos.

Matilda’s superstar Mary Fowler and Penrith Panther’s captain Nathan Cleary have been spotted kicking a footy around.

Fowler, 20, and Cleary, 26, kept things casual as they had a muck around together in fresh photos, and both were in activewear and all smiles in the sweet snaps that looked straight out of a romantic comedy.

The two are clearly getting in some bonding time during the festive season and have become the talk of the sporting world with their unexpected romance and were recently snapped sharing a kiss at Sydney Airport.

There hasn’t been such fanfare about an Aussie couple since Lleyton Hewitt and Bec Hewitt in the early 2000s.

The couple were having fun. Picture: MediaMode

The pair were mucking around. Picture: MediaMode

The star striker and Panther’s player are keeping tight-lipped about their new relationship and aren’t up for answering questions about it – but things certainly seem like they are going well.

Cleary fronted up at the GQ awards, looking suave in a black suit, and snagged the Sportsman of the Year award in December.

Confidential’s Jonathon Moran inquired if the sporting star had brought a date, but Cleary informed him he had attended the event alone.

When pressed about Fowler’s whereabouts, Cleary looked flustered but stuck to his guns … well, kind of.

“I knew this was coming,” he said with a grin.

“She’s busy.”

Cleary added he was very “grateful” to be invited to the event but admitted it wasn’t his usual thing.

“No sneakers. It’s a bit different for me, but I don’t mind dressing up every now and then,” he quipped.

Nathan attended the awards solo. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for GQ Australia

Mary opened up about her huge year. Picture: Richard Dobson

Meanwhile, Fowler has just wrapped up what you could only call a dream year. The striker, alongside her Matildas teammates, captured the nation when they made Australia proud by making it into the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Their games pulled in millions of eyeballs, and Fowler went from athlete to celebrity overnight.

Along with her vast sporting achievements, she also snagged the front cover of Marie Claire’s Women of the Year issue.

Fowler is very much in her ‘it’ girl era, and the world is watching her every move, usually with awe.

Fowler is an ambassador for the Rise & Shine Kindergarten in Carlton in Sydney’s south, and earlier this week, she turned up and spoke openly about the incredible year she’s had,

Fowler remained modest and said she’d never thought she’d get the “opportunities” she’s recently had.

“As I’ve got more opportunities being out in the spotlight a bit more, it’s made me realise the kind of responsibilities that you have to all these people that are watching you,” she admitted.

Fowler said while there’s pressure, she’s realised all she can do is stay true to herself and set a good example.

“I’ve always thought that the biggest way for me to inspire someone is for me being myself, so that’s what I do when I’m out there.

“I try to be genuine, and if that makes someone want to go after a dream or smile, then that would make me happy,” she explained.

Originally published as Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary spotted playing footy together