Matildas star and Queenslander Mary Fowler defects to NSW Blues in support of boyfriend Nathan Cleary
Mary Fowler was born and raised in Cairns but the Matildas star is ditching Queensland ahead of the Origin series, with boyfriend and Blues champion, Nathan Cleary, confirming the defection.
Where is Cairns? That’s in New South Wales.
Queensland pinched Kempsey-born Greg Inglis and now New South Wales have pinched Matildas superstar Mary Fowler.
New South Wales have landed the first big blow in their State of Origin battle with Queensland on Monday after champion halfback Nathan Cleary revealed his girlfriend Fowler, who was born in Cairns, is ditching the Maroons for the Blues.
Cleary only received the news of his Origin re-call on Sunday night but Fowler wasted no-time in getting on the phone from England, where she is recovering from a knee reconstruction.
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Not only did the Manchester City striker want to congratulate Cleary, she had one very important request - a Blues jersey to show her support for NSW, who head into enemy territory for the series opener at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday week.
“I’m gonna have to (send her a jersey), I reckon. She’s already put in the request, so I think I’m gonna have to,” Cleary revealed on Monday.
Fowler is technically already part of ‘The Blues’, which is Manchester City’s nickname, but the Sky Blue Origin jersey she will don next week Wednesday night will rubber-stamp her defection.
“Well, she reckons she is going for the Blues, so I think I have swung her,” Cleary laughed.
Fowler won’t be in the stands at Suncorp Stadium even though she had plans to re-connect with Cleary in Australia as soon as the women’s Super League season ended earlier this month.
The 22-year old is stuck back in Manchester after suffering an ACL injury in April, which required surgery, playing in City’s semi-final defeat to Manchester United in FA Women’s Cup.
“I don’t think so,” Cleary said when asked if Fowler would be able to attend any of his Origin games this year.
“It’s pretty unfortunate because she was meant to be back last week, so she would have been able to come to the game.
“But, yeah, she’s sort of attacking her rehab at the moment and hopefully she can get back at some stage, but nothing is confirmed yet.”
Cleary admitted the nature of their long-distance relationship has been a difficult time for Fowler, who is facing a race against the clock to be back on the field for the Asian Cup which will be held in Australia in March 2026.
“I’ve just been trying to be by her side in spirit, obviously, not physically, which is tough, you know, because it is a lonely time for her, having to go through this rehab period,” Cleary said.
“But I’m so proud of the way she’s attacked it and she’s very strong minded and I’m very proud of her and just trying to be by her side (through it).”
Cleary is no stranger to serious injury himself.
The four-time premiership winner missed last year’s series win with NSW after he was rubbed out of all three games with a hamstring injury.
Cleary feared coach Laurie Daley would stick with incumbent halves pairing Mitchell Moses and former Panthers teammate Jarome Luai after the duo helped guide NSW to a famous win in last year’s decider at Suncorp Stadium.
“Yeah definitely,” Cleary said when asked if he thought there was a chance he was overlooked.
“It’s hard to look past those two (Moses and Luai) and what they did last year. It was such tough circumstances after losing game one and having to go up to Queensland and win game three.
“But I’m pretty grateful that I got the call-up and I’m just going to have to progress on what they did last year and go again.”
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