Matildas star Mary Fowler has lifted the lid on how she and her boyfriend Nathan Cleary first met, revealing their romance began over ‘really deep’ text messages relating to their outlooks on life.

The Australian sporting couple, who currently live 17,000km apart on opposite sides of the world, first met back in 2023 at an adidas event.

And since then, they’ve posted snippets of their lives both in the United Kingdom and Australia as they compete on the global sporting stage.

Speaking on the Keegan and Company podcast, Fowler, 22, revealed that she and Cleary, 27, didn’t flirt much in the fledgling days of their relationship.

‘We actually didn’t flirt at all when we were texting,’ Fowler said on the podcast, the full episode of which is due to air on Sunday.

Mary Fowler has opened up on the first time she and NRL superstar Nathan Cleary first met  

The Aussie sporting power couple first met in 2023 at an adidas event with Fowler admitting they began messaging afterwards  

The Manchester City star (right) is currently recovering from undergoing knee surgery to remedy an ACL injury 

‘We just had really deep, genuine conversations.

‘It would be, like, paragraph message[s], just about the way that we think about life.’

Fowler is currently playing for Manchester City in the United Kingdom but has been unable to return home after undergoing surgery to address her ACL injury.

The soccer star had been expected to jet back Down Under ahead of next week’s State of Origin opener, with Cleary having been selected as part of Laurie Daly’s New South Wales squad.

She sustained the injury during April’s Women’s FA Cup Final defeat by rivals Manchester City and has published several updates on her social media accounts, stating that she has been keeping a positive outlook on life, despite the agonising injury that is expected to see her sidelined until next year. Doubts have also emerged over whether she will be fit for the Matildas’ Asian Cup campaign in March.

‘We dive into a lot about psychology and stuff like that, it was just really interesting chats,’ Fowler added.

But with the pair living so far away, they have been able to spend only limited time together over the past few years.

They have jetted around the world with their respective teams, with the pair notably linking up in California back in March, with Cleary playing for Penrith in their opening Las Vegas NRL round against Cronulla while Fowler was on international duty at the SheBelieves Cup.

Fowler revealed that she and Cleary had shared some ‘really deep’ messages early on instead of ‘flirting’ 

For Fowler, she believes beginning their relationship in such a manner has helped the pair during their time apart

Prior to that, they had caught up over the festive period in Australia, spending time in Queensland with friends and family, having also enjoyed a European getaway at the end of last year.

For Fowler, she believes beginning their relationship in such a manner has helped the pair during their time apart.

‘It was nice that it started that way, because I don’t think I could do long distance with someone that wasn’t interesting to talk to,’ she said.

Fowler and Cleary were last pictured together in April after she had returned to Australia to play in the Matildas’ recent international friendlies against South Korea.

The footy star notably scored during her side’s second clash against South Korea.

During the trip back home, she had been spotted enjoying a romantic day out at Redleaf Pool, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, not far from the Matildas base in Double Bay.

Cleary, meanwhile, has opened up this week on how he’s been supporting Fowler through her recent injury woe.

‘I’ve just been trying to be by her side in spirit, obviously, not physically, which is tough, you know, because it is a lonely time for her, having to go through this rehab period,’ the Penrith halfback said to The Daily Telegraph.

Cleary, meanwhile, has opened up this week on how he’s been supporting Fowler through her recent injury woe

Cleary paid a nod to Fowler after she suffered her agonising injury by donning one of her Matildas shirts

Fowler suffered the injury in April during a Womans’ FA Cup semi-final clash against Man United

It comes as Cleary has been selected as part of New South Wales’ squad for their upcoming Origin clash 

‘But I’m so proud of the way she’s attacked it and she’s very strong-minded and I’m very proud of her and just trying to be by her side (through it).’

In recent weeks, Cleary has published several nods to Fowler, posing for a picture in one of her Matildas shirts as well as publishing a screenshot of her EA Sports Football Ultimate Team card.

Cleary also delivered a surprise update this week on Fowler’s allegiances for this year’s State of Origin Series.

The 22-year-old forward, who hails from Queensland, but had been persuaded by Cleary to switch sides to support New South Wales.

‘I’m gonna have to (send her a jersey), I reckon. She’s already put in the request, so I think I’m gonna have to,’ Cleary revealed on Monday to The Daily Telegraph.

‘Well, she reckons she is going for the Blues, so I think I have swung her,’ he said.