NRL CEO Andrew Abdo hints Mary Fowler may be the key to PNG franchise success

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo hopes Mary Fowler’s PNG heritage may push superstar Nathan Cleary to become the new franchise’s first blockbuster signing.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo hopes Mary Fowler’s PNG heritage may push superstar Nathan Cleary to become the new franchise’s first blockbuster signing.

PNG will enter the NRL in 2028 – a year after Cleary’s deal with the Panthers expires – on the back of a massive $600m investment from the Australian Government.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The ARL Commission is desperate for PNG to succeed early with PNG aware it needs a marquee year one signing.

The loved-up couple have already spoken about marriage and a family.

Fowler’s mother, Nido, is from Kira Kira in PNG, a village in Port Moresby. A hero in PNG, Fowler once said she was “so proud to be Papuan.”

In a Hello Sport podcast, Abdo said Fowler’s influence could help PNG to become an NRL force through the signing of Cleary.

“It could be something that plays out in the future as something really exciting,” Abdo said.

“A really exciting combination isn’t it. It’s like I was talking about earlier, it captivates people.

Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary. Picture: Instagram

“There will be a lot of people that are Mary Fowler fans that now are interested in rugby league.

“There’s a lot of people who know nothing about sport who are interested in the romance between the two. And obviously if Nathan was playing for PNG down the track that would be pretty interesting as well.”

Originally published as NRL CEO Andrew Abdo hints Mary Fowler may be the key to PNG franchise success