Nathan Cleary’s incredible Mary Fowler pledge revealed

Nathan Cleary couldn’t have been more impressive in Las Vegas as a game-day promise to Ivan Cleary about Mary Fowler comes to light.

Nathan Cleary sensationally left the Panthers’ Las Vegas camp to be by partner Mary Fowler’s side ahead of the NRL season opener.

The star halfback got approval from his old man to leave camp to see his girlfriend after making him a promise, that he would “play better”.

Days before the Panthers’ first match of the 2025 NRL season, Cleary jumped on a plane and flew 500km to San Diego to catch up with Fowler.

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It came as Fowler and the Matildas endured a difficult time after being bundled out of the SheBelieves Cup without a single win.

And at the same time they were targeted by veteran comedian Marty Sheargold, who compared the women’s national team to that of “year 10 girls”.

Nathan Cleary was granted permission to leave camp to see Mary Fowler. Picture: Instagram

But before leaving to be by Fowler’s side for a few days, Ivan Cleary said his son promised he would “play better” if he got to see the Matildas superstar.

“He had a different week but at the end of the day he said it would make him play better, so let’s hope so,” Ivan Cleary said before the match.

And safe to say, play well he did, as Cleary had a hand in almost everything as the Panthers secured a six-point win over the Sharks.

Cleary finished with 26 run metres, a linebreak assist, a try assist and four crucial goals, however, the stats don’t do him justice as he was the second last pass in two other Penrith tries and pulled the strings throughout the Panthers’ 28-22 victory.

Nathan Cleary starred in the Panthers’ 28-22 win. (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Cleary came into the game a little underdone, after having shoulder surgery in the off-season and not playing any pre-season games.

He was only cleared to play a couple of weeks ago and was seen getting some attention from trainers to his calves in the second half as fatigue set in.

“I was a little bit worried about it coming into it, just not having the full pre-season,” Cleary said.

“It hit me with like 20 minutes to go … I was thinking these could be a long 20 minutes and they started to come home.

“So we got there in the end and think I’ll be better for the run.”

Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler take any chance they get to see each other. Image: Instagram

Cleary still proved the difference in the end but admits both he and his Panthers teammates will need to improve if they are to complete an incredible five premierships in a row.

 “It was a bit of a rusty performance,” Cleary said.

“It was round one, sort of expected, but just an amazing experience. It makes it sweeter to come home with the win. Really enjoyed it.

“I think all that outside noise about we might fall off, is all outside noise.

“Within the group we’re always still confident that you know that our training prevails and we do what we need to put ourselves in positions to win.”

Originally published as Nathan Cleary’s incredible Mary Fowler pledge revealed