My Biggest Goal Isn’t Another Trophy’: Nathan Cleary Reveals His Deepest Dream with Mary Fowler
For every photo of Nathan Cleary celebrating an NRL premiership with his father and the trophy, there’s one thing missing — something his Penrith teammates already have. Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards, and Jarome Luai have all embraced the joy of fatherhood, a chapter of life Cleary deeply admires but has yet to experience.
More than the titles, the medals, or the glory, Cleary admits that becoming a father is one of his biggest dreams. “That’s probably my biggest goal in life — to one day be a father,” he revealed ahead of the Ashes series opener in London. “It’s just probably not meant to be at the moment. There are still things that have to fall into place.”
His partner, Matildas star Mary Fowler, recently echoed similar thoughts on the Keegan and Company podcast. Fowler spoke candidly about wanting to start a family with Cleary, even mentioning the idea of adopting children and raising them on land surrounded by animals and a garden. But with both athletes pursuing careers that keep them continents apart for most of the year, those dreams remain just out of reach — for now.
Despite the distance, Cleary remains optimistic about their future together. “I’m open to whatever comes. The last thing I want at the end of my career is to have regrets,” he said.
For now, his focus remains on football and personal growth. “No matter where I am, there’s always the challenge of improving every day,” he added. “Penrith is home for me, and I still feel like there’s a lot left to do.”
While Cleary continues to lead on the field, his words reveal a quieter ambition — to one day celebrate life’s greatest victory: fatherhood.
