Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has sparked outrage among the soccer community after suggesting Mary Fowler should return to Australia to be closer to her boyfriend, NRL star Nathan Cleary. Fletcher’s comments come amid rumors that Cleary is contemplating a switch to the English Super League to spend more time with Fowler, who currently plays for Manchester City, one of the top women’s soccer teams in the world.
Fowler, a rising star in global soccer, spends most of her time in the UK and Europe, leaving limited opportunities for the couple to be together during the NRL season. Although Cleary has hinted at an interest in playing in the Super League in the future, Fletcher suggested that it might be Fowler who moves back to Australia. Speaking in interviews with Channel 7 and Channel 9, Fletcher said, “Mary will come back here, I’d say, to be closer to him,” and joked that it was Matt Cameron’s job, the CEO of the Panthers’ football department, to make it happen.
These remarks quickly sparked backlash online, with many in the soccer world criticizing the notion that Fowler would abandon her flourishing career to move back to Australia. Veteran soccer commentator Ray Gatt was one of the first to express his disbelief, tweeting, “Seriously Penrith… trying to convince Mary Fowler to come back to Sydney so they can keep Nathan Cleary playing league? Not going to happen! Mary has her own fantastic career to look forward to!”
Others were equally scathing, with one person writing, “She has her whole career ahead of her, why would she give that up? She could be an international star. All for some dude who plays a sport most of the world has never heard of.” The idea that Fowler might trade a career at the top level of women’s soccer to play in Australia’s A-League was widely mocked, with critics labeling Fletcher’s comments as “delusional” and “embarrassing.”
Andrew Dickinson, a sports fan, chimed in sarcastically, saying, “Yeah I laughed when the Penrith CEO suggested Fowler would probably come back and play in Australia, maybe in another 10 years,” while another Twitter user quipped, “Penrith Beach or St Tropez? Tough decision.” Others pointed out the vast difference in the global reach of the two sports, with one person stating, “Mary Fowler plays the world game on a world stage. Nathan Cleary plays on a smaller stage.”
The sentiment was clear – many soccer fans found it laughable that Fowler would consider leaving the pinnacle of her career for the NRL. Comments ranged from humor to outright disbelief, with one fan tweeting, “She ain’t leaving Man City,” and another adding, “Delusion is the word.”
Fletcher’s comments have highlighted the differing perceptions between the world of soccer and rugby league, with many feeling that the global appeal and prestige of soccer far outweighs the localized success of NRL. Whether Cleary ultimately follows Fowler to the UK remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the soccer world won’t be expecting her to head back to Australia anytime soon.
