Nathan Cleary, boyfriend of Matildas star Mary Fowler, has expressed his disappointment over the continued trolling directed towards the Australian women's national football team. His comments come after radio host Marty Sheargold was fired for making derogatory remarks about the Matildas on air.

Cleary, who is preparing to lead the Penrith Panthers in their round-one clash with Cronulla in Las Vegas, stated that it's "pretty sad that people are still saying that sort of stuff." He believes that such comments are "unnecessary" and should not be tolerated.

Cleary and Fowler have been dating since late 2023 and have maintained a long-distance relationship. Fowler attended Panthers games in the Women's Super League off-season last year, while Cleary flew out to England to watch her play after the Panthers won their fourth consecutive premiership in October.

As Fowler and the Matildas prepare for their upcoming Asian Cup campaign, Cleary is focused on leading the Panthers to victory in the NRL. He is confident that Jack Cole, who has been named as Jarome Luai's replacement at five-eighth, will perform well in the upcoming season.

Cleary is impressed with Cole's performance during the pre-season and believes that he has earned the opportunity to start at five-eighth. He is also hopeful that Blaize Talagi, who is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, will be able to challenge Cole for the position once he is fully fit.

Cleary is excited about the upcoming season and believes that the Panthers have a strong chance of winning another premiership. He is also grateful for the support of the Panthers' fans, who turned out in large numbers for the team's signing session in Las Vegas.