Inside Fowler’s tender dressing room moment with Cleary
What did Mary Fowler tell Nathan Cleary in the wake of NSW’s devastating game two State of Origin loss to Queensland in Melbourne?The Matildas and Manchester City star has certainly got the sporting wisdom to pass on some gems to her four-time premiership winning partner.AdvertisementBut while a tender dressing room moment with Cleary after the 44-24 drubbing melted even Maroons hearts, it wasn’t the time for that.“No, no advice,” Fowler told Nine’s Today from a Weet-Bix grassroots football clinic in Western Sydney on Monday.“It’s amazing to get moments like that to go and watch him. I don’t get to see him very often, so, I honestly just feel so blessed when I do get to go and support him.“He knows what he’s doing and loss is a part of every sporting journey. I’ll just be there to support him, and he goes again.”The MCG match was Fowler’s first live Origin experience.And while she loves the big stage, she equally enjoys spending time with the next generation as she passes on mental tips as well as technical and tactical ones.Fowler’s 2025 memoir Bloom was widely praised for her willingness to tackle the tough topics of depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.Advertisement“It’s really beautiful anytime I get to speak to kids and they feel comfortable enough to open up to me about personal stuff,” the 23-year-old from Cairns said.“Moments like these, being out here today, it just fills me even more and connects me with my reason for why I am playing. There are a lot of kids who feel inspired to play sport, but there are also a lot of things outside of sport that sport can help kids with and that helped me a lot.“So I do feel like the more we share stuff about our journeys and in particular mental health, I think it can go a long way for other people who may not be able to talk about those things.”AdvertisementAdvertisementFowler’s City will start their Women’s Super League title defence in September, with comprehensive coverage on Stan Sport.
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