Penrith boss Brian Fletcher has spoken out tongue-in-cheek about suggestions the Panthers could try to lure Mary Fowler back to Australia.
Fowler is currently dating Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary, who traveled to Britain following his side’s NRL Grand Final victory last weekend to spend some time with the Manchester City superstar.
But fears are growing that the NRL superstar, who has played a crucial role in helping his side achieve four consecutive premiership wins, could be tempted to move to Britain to be closer to Fowler to come.
Last week, footy fans hit back at Penrith CEO Fletcher online after he appeared to claim the club could be working on a bold plan to lure Fowler, 21, back to Australia to keep Cleary at the club longer.
‘Last year I said on the radio that if we win in ’23, we will definitely win in ’24 and ’25. So don’t be afraid of next year,” Fletcher had said.
Panthers boss Brian Fletcher has clarified comments he made last week about the attempt to lure Mary Fowler back to Australia
Fowler is currently in a relationship with Penrith star Nathan Cleary and speculation had arisen that the premiership-winning halfback could move to Britain to join Fowler.
However, Cleary threw cold water on those rumors last night during an interview during the Super League Grand final
‘We also still have ’26 and ’27 to go. And why I say that is that Ivan Cleary and Nathan Cleary are signed until the end of ’27.
“It is my job and the CEO of football, Matt Cameron, to extend that as far as possible.” Fletcher added ironically, “Matt’s job is to get Mary back to Australia.”
Fowler, who has impressed with City’s women, is unlikely to move back to Australia. Cleary also threw cold water on a move to a team in Europe on Saturday evening after the pair were spotted together watching the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.
Some fans had also questioned Fletcher’s comment on social media, claiming they were “delusional.”
‘LOOOOOOL! Imagine thinking Mary Fowler would leave the WSL in England to move back to Penrith just to be in the W-League… @PenrithPanthers is no longer delusional about this,” someone wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite this, Penrith’s CEO has since clarified the comments.
“It was light-hearted,” Fletcher said on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast Weekend.
Fans took to social media to hit back at the Penrith CEO’s comments last week, calling them ‘delusional’
Fowler has impressed for Manchester City’s women’s side this season and could feature in Sunday’s WSL match against Liverpool
“We’ve got Nathan and Ivan registered until the end of ’27 and it’s our job – or my job – to try to extend that as far as possible to keep them both at the foot of the mountains until their rugby league. days are over.
“There would be a lot of speculation if she (Fowler) came home, but that’s between her and Nathan and we don’t get involved in those matters.”
There has been speculation that Cleary could be tempted by a move to the UK, with top player Matty Johns also expressing fears that the halfback could be poached by a union side in one of Europe’s top leagues.
Cleary, meanwhile, said he would not be moving to Britain anytime soon
“My only fear with Nathan is that he goes to England and puts him in quite the spotlight, or he finds himself in the backyard of these big French rugby clubs and European rugby clubs,” Johns said on his SEN program Morning Glory with Matty on Friday Johns. .
“And there would be the temptation (to poach him). Some of them (rugby clubs) would probably want to make a bid sooner or later, that’s the only thing I would worry about.”
Fowler, meanwhile, has scored two goals in six appearances in all competitions for Man City’s women’s side this season and shone in their 2-0 Women’s Champions League victory against Barcelona in midweek.
The Matildas star is also likely to return to action for Gareth Taylor’s side on Sunday evening when they take on Liverpool in the Women’s Super League at Anfield.
Cleary, meanwhile, has dismissed rumors he could move to the Northern Hemisphere any time soon after pressing his future during an interview with Sky Sports.
Fletcher had previously said that luring Nathan Cleary to Australia permanently would help the club
“Not that fast, to be honest,” Cleary said during a half-time interview during the Super League Grand Final. ‘I’ve seen all the rumours. But come over here and visit her [Mary] play, which is fun and take a break.
“But I won’t be moving here anytime soon.”