ANDREW JOHNS SHUTS DOWN RENEWED RUMOURS SURROUNDING NATHAN CLEARY AND MARY FOWLER
Australian sporting circles are buzzing once again — and this time, rugby league legend Andrew Johns has had enough. After weeks of whispers and social media speculation about a possible rekindled romance between Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary and Matildas sensation Mary Fowler, Johns stepped in with a firm and fiery response that left no room for doubt.
It all started when a few fan accounts reignited the rumour mill, claiming Cleary and Fowler had been spotted together at a recent Sydney event. The unverified posts quickly spread across X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok, sending fans into a frenzy. Some even went as far as suggesting that the two athletes were “back together,” while others called it a publicity distraction amid the NRL off-season.
But Andrew Johns, one of the most respected voices in Australian sport, wasn’t having it. Speaking on Nine’s Wide World of Sports, the rugby league icon expressed frustration at the way personal lives of players continue to be dragged into the public spotlight. “People need to stop making up stories,” Johns said bluntly. “Nathan’s focus is on football — he’s preparing for another big season. Mary’s doing her thing, representing Australia proudly. The rest is just noise.”
Johns’ comments immediately went viral, with many fans applauding his defense of Cleary and Fowler. “Finally, someone said it!” wrote one commenter. “These athletes can’t even breathe without someone turning it into gossip.” Another fan added, “Andrew Johns is 100% right — let them live their lives without the constant rumours.”
The Cleary–Fowler story has captivated Australian fans since 2023, when the two were first linked during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Their brief public interactions, including a few shared appearances and mutual follows on social media, fueled speculation that a relationship might be blossoming. While neither confirmed nor denied it at the time, the media frenzy was relentless — and now, it seems the gossip has made an unwelcome return.
Insiders close to both athletes have since clarified that there is no romantic involvement between Cleary and Fowler. “They have mutual respect, but that’s where it ends,” a source reportedly told The Daily Telegraph. “The rumours just keep getting recycled because people can’t let it go.”
For Johns, the issue runs deeper than gossip — it’s about respecting boundaries and focusing on what truly matters: performance and professionalism. “We’re talking about two elite athletes,” he said. “They’ve earned their place through hard work, not through who they’re rumoured to be dating. The media should show them that respect.”
As the NRL and Matildas seasons move forward, both Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler are keeping their attention on their respective goals — Cleary eyeing another premiership with Penrith, and Fowler preparing for Olympic qualifiers. Whether the rumours fade or flare up again, one thing is clear: Andrew Johns’ strong words have sent a powerful message — it’s time to stop the speculation and let the stars shine for their game,
not the gossip.
