Nathan Cleary faced a tricky question about his girlfriend after the Panthers ended their losing streak.

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Nathan Cleary stitched up with girlfriend question after Panthers break losing streak

 

Staff Writers from News.com.au

March 16th, 2024 12:20 pm

NRL superstar Nathan Cleary has been caught off guard by a question about his girlfriend Mary Fowler following the Panthers win over the Eels on Friday night.

 

The reigning premiers snapped a rare two-game losing streak with the 26-18 victory over their Western Sydney rivals at Penrith’s BlueBet Stadium, before their champion halfback was invited to speak during Nine’s post-game program.

 

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The 26-year-old three-time premiership winner was initially asked by host James Bracey why Penrith can do it again and win another title in 2024.

 

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“I think it’s the mentality that the three before this are done, they’re memories that we can look back on when we’re all retired and tell our grandkids but for the moment it’s just another competition, the fact that we’ve won three before doesn’t give us any points or any advantage this year, maybe a bit of experience.

 

“But yeah it all starts again and every team is going to be better so we have to be too.”

 

Nathan Cleary was taken aback after the question from Brad Fittler. Pic: Nine

Nathan Cleary was taken aback after the question from Brad Fittler. Pic: Nine

Source: Supplied

Nathan Cleary was ambushed on Nine by Brad Fittler. Pic: Nine

Nathan Cleary was ambushed on Nine by Brad Fittler. Pic: Nine

Source: Supplied

To that point Cleary had been handling the live TV experience beautifully, until NRL great Brad Fittler ambushed him with a question he did not see coming about his football superstar girlfriend Mary Fowler.

 

“Were you feeling the pressure because your girlfriend is such a winner?” Fittler asked.

 

Meanwhile fellow host Allana Ferguson yelled out: “”Where’s Mary? Where’s Mary?”

 

Cleary laughed off the question but looked somewhat uncomfortable with the situation as the rest of the panel laughed.

 

“I wish she was here,” Cleary said.

 

“She was showing me up for a while. We had two losses in a row.”

 

Cleary’s high-profile blossoming relationship with Matildas and Manchester City star Fowler has been the talk of the sport world since the pair were spotted on an ice cream date last August.

 

Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler are Australia’s newest sporting power couple.

Source: News Corp Australia

Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler are going long distance. Pic: Instagram

Source: Supplied

They confirmed their romance in January this year with the pair forced to go long distance as Fowler, 21, continued her football commitments in the UK with Manchester City.

 

However with Fowler returning to Australia for international duty with the Matildas, the sporting power couple have managed to at least see other on multiple occasions this year.

 

Tago stars in Panthers victory

 

Meanwhile, Isaah Yeo tuned the game for Penrith but Izack Tago was the star as the defending premiers got their season away against Parramatta at home on Friday.

 

Yeo’s cross-field bomb to Sunia Turuva in the 52nd minute got the home side in front before Tago bagged a try of his own to give the Panthers an eight-point lead which they never surrendered.

 

Panthers fans finally started to see glimpses of the three-time premiers at their best after they struggled to score points in the World Club Challenge and in round 1.

 

Tago, who signed a $3 million contract extension during the week, carved up the Eels all night with five line breaks and a try.

 

The Eels weren’t helped when Baily Simonsson went off in the second minute after a high shot from Jarome Luai.

 

Izack Tago was on fire. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Source: Getty Images

His failed HIA exposed the Eels down the left and Tago took full advantage of it all night in front of the sellout crowd of 21,522.

 

The 26-18 win would have been so much more had Penrith not bombed a number of tries.

 

The Panthers hardly let the Eels down their end and Parramatta only had 29 per cent of the field territory in the first half but strolled over for three soft tries.

 

The first to hooker Joey Lussick was very soft against a defensive unit which has been the best of the NRL era.

 

“It’s hard to fathom that the Penrith Panthers would concede a try like that,” Fox League commentator Cooper Cronk said.

 

Parramatta clearly didn’t fear Penrith but they just couldn’t get any consistency in the game and let the Panthers off the hook on many occasions.

 

Bringing Junior Paulo off the bench just before James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota were about to come off was a great move by Brad Arthur and his prop looked dangerous with every carry.

 

The Panthers were aware of Paulo’s great offloading and even had a player to run behind him to stop him turning and passing while being tackled.

 

Jarome Luai of the Panthers is tackled by Junior Paulo. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Source: Getty Images

Mitchell Moses had just six runs against Penrith and is still clearly carrying that groin problem.

 

His speed is his greatest asset and he can’t utilise it at the moment. Groin issues can linger for a long time and if Moses can’t get his right it could be a long season for the Eels who rely on him so much for their spark and kicking game.

 

His halves partner Dylan Brown only had seven runs and needed to get more involved with his main man struggling.

 

Parramatta’s three first half tries came off Jarome Luai’s poor discipline. Luai gave away two penalties and a six again and the Eels scored shortly after on each occasion.

 

Sure, Penrith should have defended better, but they wouldn’t have had to worry about it had their five-eighth played to the rules.

 

Luai was placed on a report for a high shot in the second minute on Baily Simonsson but he shouldn’t have much to worry about.

 

Luai was also penalised for a trip on Mitch Moses which led to a Shaun Lane try the next set.

 

James Fisher-Harris copped a big hit from ex-teammate Reagan Campbell-Gillard and went off shortly after and didn’t return with a shoulder issue.

 

– with NCA Newswire

 

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