NRL SUPERSTAR CLEARY’S SELFLESS FOODBANK ACT WITH FOWLER WINS HEARTS
Penrith halfback spends day volunteering in Manchester during offseason stay with Matildas star girlfriend
MANCHESTER – NRL champion Nathan Cleary has won widespread acclaim for a selfless off-field gesture during his extended offseason stay with girlfriend Mary Fowler in the UK, with one charitable act leaving fans across the globe amazed.
The 28-year-old Penrith Panthers halfback was in England as part of the Kangaroos side that secured a dominant 3-0 clean sweep in the Rugby League Ashes series between October and November. Rather than heading straight home, he stayed on to spend time with Matildas superstar Fowler, who is based in Manchester while rehabilitating a ruptured ACL suffered playing for Manchester City back in April.
The 22-year-old Fowler has shared numerous snaps and videos of their time together on Instagram, but it was a post from a local charity that catapulted the couple’s offseason to headlines on both sides of the world.
Atherton & Leigh Foodbank – which provides food and support to families facing hardship – revealed Cleary had called unprompted to offer his help, spending a full day volunteering with the organisation.
“We had an extra volunteer today,” the charity’s Facebook post read. “Nathan Cleary, star of Penrith Panthers and the Australian Kangaroos, called to see us and insisted on doing a shift, packing bags and getting involved with all aspects of our work. Thanks for your help today Nathan, you made a real difference and helped people facing hardship to stay well fed.”
The gesture has struck a chord with sports fans, who have praised Cleary for using his profile to give back to the community during his downtime. While Fowler continues her recovery from injury – a process that has kept her off the pitch since April – the couple have embraced their time in Manchester, with Cleary’s unexpected volunteer shift highlighting the human side of two of Australia’s biggest sports stars.
As the NRL offseason continues, Cleary’s selfless act has become a talking point far beyond rugby league circles, reminding fans that athletic excellence and community kindness can go hand in hand.
