Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler are pictured together for the first time as Aussie sport’s biggest romance heats up in Perth

EXCLUSIVE

NRL superstar and Nathan Cleary and Matildas ace Mary Fowler have been photographed going public with their romance in Perth on Tuesday.

After Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that Cleary made a cross-country dash to watch Fowler and the Matildas play the Philippines on Sunday, images have now surfaced of the duo spending time together in Highgate, near the city’s CBD.

Fowler and Cleary have been romantically linked since being spotted together twice following the Matildas’ World Cup campaign. 

The new images show a relaxed Fowler wearing a white singlet, shorts and sneakers with her hair tied back and a cap on.  

The pair grabbed a takeaway coffee from a local cafe and were seen enjoying each other’s company and laughing, with an onlooker describing their interaction as ‘low-key but cute’.

‘There was a guy that recognised him and they shook hands and Mary laughed, then they were just laughing and walking very close together,’ the passer-by said.

An onlooker described their interaction as ‘low-key but cute’ as the sport stars grabbed a coffee and had a laugh in Highgate 

‘They were walking very close together,’ the onlooker said after seeing Fowler and Cleary, who was wearing a knee brace after being injured in the NRL grand final

The NRL star also liked a post Fowler put up on Instagram on Monday – the first time he’s taken that step on social media.

The Panthers star was wearing a knee brace in the photos with Fowler after he suffered a suspected ligament tear early in the NRL grand final.

Despite the injury, he was able to haul the Panthers on his back and engineer a stunning come-from-behind victory over the Brisbane Broncos to claim a third straight premiership.

Following big wins over Iran and the Philippines in their Olympic qualification matches in Perth, the Matildas will wrap up their Australia tour with a match against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.

Fowler posted a series of images from those qualification matches, which were liked by a host of teammates and fellow athletes, including Cleary. 

The new development comes after Cleary journeyed across the country to back Fowler in Perth on Sunday in what was the biggest sign of a romantic connection between the pair before these images surfaced. 

He was photographed with two Matildas fans outside Optus Stadium just before the Aussies’ 8-0 victory, with Fowler scoring the opening goal.

Matildas supporter Annie Lewin shared the shot of Cleary with the caption ‘silly for the tillies’. 

Nathan Cleary also liked an Instagram post that Fowler put up on Monday – the first time he’s taken that step on social media

Fowler’s star is on the rise with a key role in the forward line for the Matildas and a contract with Manchester City

Cleary would have been playing for Australia on Saturday had he not injured his knee in the NRL grand final. He skipped watching his Aussie teammates to travel to support Fowler instead

Cleary and Fowler first attracted attention as a potential couple after being seen together on two occasions following following the Women’s World Cup. 

Early sightings included a leisurely walk along the Nepean River in Penrith, where the 25-year-old NRL sensation and the 20-year-old Matildas striker were first observed spending time together. 

They were also seen sharing ice cream following a promotional event hosted by Adidas, a brand both athletes endorse.

Fowler will be a big part of the Matildas’ attack when they take on Chinese Taipei on Wednesday night at Perth’s HBF Park Stadium, which is within an easy walk of where she was spotted with Cleary on Tuesday.