Latest news with #EnglishSuperLeague
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mary Fowler dream shattered as Panthers handed huge news about Nathan Cleary
Mary Fowler's dream about starting a big family has been dealt a blow, with reports her boyfriend Nathan Cleary has no interest in quitting the NRL to move overseas. The Penrith Panthers star has consistently been linked with a move to play in Europe to be closer to the Matildas fan favourite, who is based in England and plays for Manchester City. Rumours have been rife for months that Cleary might switch to the English Super League in the near future to be closer to Fowler. And Wallabies legend Tim Horan suggested Cleary was considering a switch to rugby union after hearing whispers that the four-time premiership winner was "quite keen" to leave the NRL for the 15-man game. Another former Wallaby, Morgan Turinui, appeared to add credence to the story by insisting "there is interest on both sides". But veteran sports journalist Andrew Webster revealed on his 'Off the Record' Podcast with Phil 'Buzz' Rothfield, that Cleary's father and coach Ivan, plus manager George Mimis, both dismissed the reports as 'bulls**t'. "I spoke to George Mimis (Cleary's manager) and Ivan Cleary and Ivan told me he'd spoken to Nathan and they both said it's absolute bulls**t," Webster declared. "Nathan had said to Ivan 'there's nothing in it' and Ivan said to me he's been getting text messages and calls about this sort of stuff around Nathan leaving for about six months. "I spoke to Mimis and he says he hasn't had a discussion with any rugby union club, anywhere in the world." Rothfield said he also found the speculation around Cleary's future ridiculous, amid warnings about interest from overseas rugby clubs and suggestions Fowler wanted Cleary to be closer to her in England. "People that are saying that clearly have no idea what Nathan Cleary is about," Webster continued. "They clearly don't understand what a competitor he is and how professional he is. He's not about to go and cash a cheque in French rugby, which is basically a part-time comp in comparison to rugby league. "Everyone thinks that he's going to move over and be closer to Mary Fowler so he's been linked to the English Super League, to Perth, now to French rugby or European rugby. It's all bulls**t. That said though, if I'm (Rugby Australia CEO) Phil Waugh I'm having a crack to get him. He'd be the perfect convert." RELATED: Rival NRL club responds as Craig Bellamy tipped for shock switch Knights urged to backflip on brutal call to part ways Origin hero Door ajar for Reece Walsh as Ponga on cusp of State of Origin ban The latest development around Cleary would appear to put Fowler's dreams of starting a family firmly on the backburner. Fowler and Cleary both have three siblings each and speaking on the 'Keegan and Company' podcast with former NRL player Keegan Hipgrave this week, the Matildas star said she has a burning desire to start "a big family" of her own one day. 'The only dream I have at the moment is to be a mum and have heaps of kids and be in a space where they can play outside a lot," she said. "We can do the gardening and feed the animals together and to be able to run wild in the place; be in the mud. If I had the set-up for that, it would be a dream. 'I would love to have two or three kids of my own and then adopt. I don't know how many I would adopt, it's a long process. But in an ideal world I would like to adopt siblings. I would bring all of them into the home. 'The dream would definitely have a lot of outdoor space because I would love to have lots of animals... I really want to have a whole range of animals. It's very random and I'm trying to convince Nath that it would be a good idea. I really want to get a cow, some little goats, maybe a pig, some geese and I also really want to get a Great Dane.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Mary Fowler drops baby revelation as truth emerges about Nathan Cleary 'rumours'
Mary Fowler has opened up on her plans to have a big family one day, while Ivan Cleary has shut down rumours that Nathan is interested in a switch to rugby union. Speaking on the 'Keegan and Company' podcast with former NRL player Keegan Hipgrave this week, Fowler revealed she sees herself having multiple children one day. 'I really want to have a big family,' the Matildas star said. 'The only dream I have at the moment is to be a mum and have heaps of kids and be in a space where they can play outside a lot. We can do the gardening and feed the animals together and to be able to run wild in the place; be in the mud. If I had the set-up for that, it would be a dream.' Fowler and Cleary both come from big families. She has four siblings - Caoimhin, Seamus, Ciara and Louise - while Nathan has brother Jet (also an NRL player) and sisters Indiana and Milaya. Fowler said she wants the same for herself when she starts a family. 'I would love to have two or three kids of my own and then adopt,' she said. 'I don't know how many I would adopt, it's a long process. But in an ideal world I would like to adopt siblings. I would bring all of them into the home. 'The dream would definitely have a lot of outdoor space because I would love to have lots of animals. I'm not as bothered about what the house would look like, I just want to have space for a garden set-up to grow my own crops. I really want to have a whole range of animals. It's very random and I'm trying to convince Nath that it would be a good idea. I really want to get a cow, some little goats, maybe a pig, some geese and I also really want to get a Great Dane.' Whether Fowler and Cleary will get their 'dream' family scenario remains to be seen, and the major sticking point is the fact she's based on the other side of the world in England. Rumours have been rife for months that Cleary might switch to the English Super League in the near future to be closer to Fowler in Manchester. But new rumours emerged last week that a code switch to rugby union could be on the cards. Wallabies great Tim Horan revealed he'd heard it on good authority that Cleary is "very keen" on the move, while Morgan Turinui floated the possibility of Cleary playing the 15-man code in France or England. But NRL journalist Andrew Webster revealed on Tuesday night that Cleary's father Ivan and manager George Mimis have both rejected the claims. When asked if there was any truth to the rumours on SEN radio, Webster replied: "None whatsoever." He added: "People seem to overlook the fact he's under contract with Penrith until the end of 2027, a club he loves dearly and coached by father Ivan. I made some calls on it and Ivan said 'I've been getting these sort of phone calls for six months about Nathan going to rugby union, and it's not right'. "George Mimis said he hasn't had a conversation with anyone involved with a rugby club in any competition anywhere in the world. So that's pretty definitive." RELATED: Family detail as Bellamy tipped for stunning switch to QLD team Nathan Cleary act comes to light after Panthers axe Test player Cleary has previously admitted he'd be interested in playing for the Wallabies one day. Rugby Australia changed the rules in recent years to allow overseas players to represent the Wallabies, meaning Cleary would be eligible for national selection if he was based in England or France. But Webster pointed out that playing European rugby isn't actually the glamorous lifestyle it's made out to be.
Irish Examiner
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Megan Campbell on lookout for new club as promoted Lionesses refresh squad
Megan Campbell has been released by London City Lionesses despite helping the standalone women's club reach the English Super League for the first time. The 31-year-old - who recently shattered the Guinness world record for her catapult throw-in - featured 11 times in their Championship success, scoring the only goal in a narrow 1-0 win over Bristol City. The Pride held their nerve on the final day of the campaign to narrowly beat Birmingham City to the league title and sole promotion spot. They are backed by American-based billionaire owner Michele Kang and expected to continue their heavy investment in the playing squad for the step up. Campbell's fellow Irish internationals Ruesha Littlejohn and Grace Moloney both left the club midway through the season. It remains to be seen if Louth native Campbell replicates Littlejohn's move to Shamrock Rovers by returning to the League of Ireland. She joined the Londoners 18 months ago following stints at Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton. Campbell was one of six players, alongside Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Georgia Brougham, Lucy Fitzgerald, Emma Mukandi and Connie Scofield, not to have their contracts renewed. Striker Boye-Hlorkah is the highest-profile of those culled, having contributed six league goals last season to finish as the club's second-highest goalscorer. Defender Campbell earned her 55th cap in the last Ireland game, the win over Greece, and is due to feature against Turkey and Slovenia in the final pair of Uefa Nations League matches, the latter at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday, June 3 (6pm).
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Women's Origin coaches want a slice of NRL Vegas action
Jillaroos great Tahnee Norris has called for the NRL to put women back on the Las Vegas schedule, arguing for head office to take State of Origin to the US in 2026. The Jillaroos became victims of their own success on Wednesday, with no women's match on the schedule for next year's Vegas fixtures. The move to shrink the US extravaganza came after Australia's 90-4 thumping of England there in March, with officials believing the four-game event was too long. AAP understands the NRL is examining what the women's schedule looks like for next year and beyond, with the game continuing to grow. For now, it has left the women's side of the code in an awkward predicament. The NRL wants to keep an English Super League match on the Vegas draw to attract fans from the northern hemisphere, after doing so with great success this year. Taking four NRL teams is also paramount for the league, with Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland all locked in for 2026. But at the same time the women's game is viewed as a genuine pathway for growth in the US, with no professional rugby or gridiron competitions in the country. The news came on the eve of Thursday night's second Origin clash in Sydney, with NSW pushing to wrap up the series. And Norris, who now coaches the Maroons, believes Origin must be the answer. "I was disappointed it wasn't game one of the Origin series (this year)," said Norris, the most-capped Jillaroo in history. "There were a lot of proposals put forward and that (Test against England) was what the NRL went with. "If we took the women's Origin over there it would have been a really good opportunity to show the best of our game. "It needs that. It shows here, you look at the publicity after that last game when we had more than two million viewers watching State of Origin. "If we put the best game out there, it will only get bigger and bigger." Women's Origin is already used to kick off the Magic Round, with states relying on a six-week camp for preparation, with no NRLW matches before then. Norris said a similar approach could be implemented for Vegas, with Blues coach John Strange also adamant there needs to be a women's match on the fixture. "It's really important that they're in there every year," Strange said. "It's a great spectacle for not just for Australia, but for the world. But obviously a bit of thought needs to go into making sure it's a good product. "We all know what happened last year. It's clear now that everyone knows that the domestic comp in NRLW is a lot stronger than the domestic comp in England.'' Strange backed Norris's call for an Origin series opener in Vegas, or a grand-final rematch from the previous NRLW season. "It's just got to be a good spectacle," Strange said. Jillaroos great Tahnee Norris has called for the NRL to put women back on the Las Vegas schedule, arguing for head office to take State of Origin to the US in 2026. The Jillaroos became victims of their own success on Wednesday, with no women's match on the schedule for next year's Vegas fixtures. The move to shrink the US extravaganza came after Australia's 90-4 thumping of England there in March, with officials believing the four-game event was too long. AAP understands the NRL is examining what the women's schedule looks like for next year and beyond, with the game continuing to grow. For now, it has left the women's side of the code in an awkward predicament. The NRL wants to keep an English Super League match on the Vegas draw to attract fans from the northern hemisphere, after doing so with great success this year. Taking four NRL teams is also paramount for the league, with Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland all locked in for 2026. But at the same time the women's game is viewed as a genuine pathway for growth in the US, with no professional rugby or gridiron competitions in the country. The news came on the eve of Thursday night's second Origin clash in Sydney, with NSW pushing to wrap up the series. And Norris, who now coaches the Maroons, believes Origin must be the answer. "I was disappointed it wasn't game one of the Origin series (this year)," said Norris, the most-capped Jillaroo in history. "There were a lot of proposals put forward and that (Test against England) was what the NRL went with. "If we took the women's Origin over there it would have been a really good opportunity to show the best of our game. "It needs that. It shows here, you look at the publicity after that last game when we had more than two million viewers watching State of Origin. "If we put the best game out there, it will only get bigger and bigger." Women's Origin is already used to kick off the Magic Round, with states relying on a six-week camp for preparation, with no NRLW matches before then. Norris said a similar approach could be implemented for Vegas, with Blues coach John Strange also adamant there needs to be a women's match on the fixture. "It's really important that they're in there every year," Strange said. "It's a great spectacle for not just for Australia, but for the world. But obviously a bit of thought needs to go into making sure it's a good product. "We all know what happened last year. It's clear now that everyone knows that the domestic comp in NRLW is a lot stronger than the domestic comp in England.'' Strange backed Norris's call for an Origin series opener in Vegas, or a grand-final rematch from the previous NRLW season. "It's just got to be a good spectacle," Strange said. Jillaroos great Tahnee Norris has called for the NRL to put women back on the Las Vegas schedule, arguing for head office to take State of Origin to the US in 2026. The Jillaroos became victims of their own success on Wednesday, with no women's match on the schedule for next year's Vegas fixtures. The move to shrink the US extravaganza came after Australia's 90-4 thumping of England there in March, with officials believing the four-game event was too long. AAP understands the NRL is examining what the women's schedule looks like for next year and beyond, with the game continuing to grow. For now, it has left the women's side of the code in an awkward predicament. The NRL wants to keep an English Super League match on the Vegas draw to attract fans from the northern hemisphere, after doing so with great success this year. Taking four NRL teams is also paramount for the league, with Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland all locked in for 2026. But at the same time the women's game is viewed as a genuine pathway for growth in the US, with no professional rugby or gridiron competitions in the country. The news came on the eve of Thursday night's second Origin clash in Sydney, with NSW pushing to wrap up the series. And Norris, who now coaches the Maroons, believes Origin must be the answer. "I was disappointed it wasn't game one of the Origin series (this year)," said Norris, the most-capped Jillaroo in history. "There were a lot of proposals put forward and that (Test against England) was what the NRL went with. "If we took the women's Origin over there it would have been a really good opportunity to show the best of our game. "It needs that. It shows here, you look at the publicity after that last game when we had more than two million viewers watching State of Origin. "If we put the best game out there, it will only get bigger and bigger." Women's Origin is already used to kick off the Magic Round, with states relying on a six-week camp for preparation, with no NRLW matches before then. Norris said a similar approach could be implemented for Vegas, with Blues coach John Strange also adamant there needs to be a women's match on the fixture. "It's really important that they're in there every year," Strange said. "It's a great spectacle for not just for Australia, but for the world. But obviously a bit of thought needs to go into making sure it's a good product. "We all know what happened last year. It's clear now that everyone knows that the domestic comp in NRLW is a lot stronger than the domestic comp in England.'' Strange backed Norris's call for an Origin series opener in Vegas, or a grand-final rematch from the previous NRLW season. "It's just got to be a good spectacle," Strange said.
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Women's Origin coaches want a slice of NRL Vegas action
Jillaroos great Tahnee Norris has called for the NRL to put women back on the Las Vegas schedule, arguing for head office to take State of Origin to the US in 2026. The Jillaroos became victims of their own success on Wednesday, with no women's match on the schedule for next year's Vegas fixtures. The move to shrink the US extravaganza came after Australia's 90-4 thumping of England there in March, with officials believing the four-game event was too long. AAP understands the NRL is examining what the women's schedule looks like for next year and beyond, with the game continuing to grow. For now, it has left the women's side of the code in an awkward predicament. The NRL wants to keep an English Super League match on the Vegas draw to attract fans from the northern hemisphere, after doing so with great success this year. Taking four NRL teams is also paramount for the league, with Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland all locked in for 2026. But at the same time the women's game is viewed as a genuine pathway for growth in the US, with no professional rugby or gridiron competitions in the country. The news came on the eve of Thursday night's second Origin clash in Sydney, with NSW pushing to wrap up the series. And Norris, who now coaches the Maroons, believes Origin must be the answer. "I was disappointed it wasn't game one of the Origin series (this year)," said Norris, the most-capped Jillaroo in history. "There were a lot of proposals put forward and that (Test against England) was what the NRL went with. "If we took the women's Origin over there it would have been a really good opportunity to show the best of our game. "It needs that. It shows here, you look at the publicity after that last game when we had more than two million viewers watching State of Origin. "If we put the best game out there, it will only get bigger and bigger." Women's Origin is already used to kick off the Magic Round, with states relying on a six-week camp for preparation, with no NRLW matches before then. Norris said a similar approach could be implemented for Vegas, with Blues coach John Strange also adamant there needs to be a women's match on the fixture. "It's really important that they're in there every year," Strange said. "It's a great spectacle for not just for Australia, but for the world. But obviously a bit of thought needs to go into making sure it's a good product. "We all know what happened last year. It's clear now that everyone knows that the domestic comp in NRLW is a lot stronger than the domestic comp in England.'' Strange backed Norris's call for an Origin series opener in Vegas, or a grand-final rematch from the previous NRLW season. "It's just got to be a good spectacle," Strange said.
