Nathan Cleary’s “Grateful” Instagram carousel prompted January 2024 reports that he was subtly revealing his relationship with Mary Fowler. PerthNow reported that fans identified Fowler in two images, including one at the beach and another showing the pair sharing a hot drink. “Soft launch” was the media’s description of those clues—not an explanation either athlete gave of their intent.
What was in Cleary’s Instagram post?
On January 4, 2024, PerthNow reported that Cleary had posted a carousel captioned “Grateful.” The outlet said two images appeared to show Fowler: a beach scene and a photo of the pair sharing a hot drink. The post’s understated caption and the images led coverage to call it a soft launch. PerthNow’s January 4 report
The term describes how the posts were read publicly; neither athlete is reported as having said that the post was intended as a relationship announcement.
How the January posts unfolded
January 4: “Grateful”
PerthNow’s report focused on the two images fans identified as including Fowler. The caption itself was simply “Grateful.”
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January 17: “That’s life”
PerthNow reported that a later Cleary post carried the caption “That’s life” alongside an ice cream emoji. The outlet interpreted the emoji as a callback to earlier reports that the pair had shared ice cream. Hello Sport’s account reacted to the post with “It’s never just ice cream”—a third-party comment, not a quote from Cleary or Fowler. PerthNow’s January 17 coverage
January 20: Fowler’s carousel
Fox Sports, crediting Chloe Whelan of News.com.au, reported that Fowler had posted a carousel featuring Cleary, including a photo of the two together. Her reported caption was “Slide 3.” Fox Sports characterized her post as confirmation of the romance. Fox Sports’ January 20 report
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Why the timeline is sometimes reported differently
Contemporaneous coverage places the relevant posts in January 2024. An ELLE Australia retrospective published October 8, 2026, says the pair met in 2023 but dates the Instagram post making the relationship public to March 2024, which conflicts with the January reports. For the dates and captions of the posts discussed here, the January coverage provides the contemporaneous account. ELLE Australia’s retrospective
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- AS TOUGH AS YOU: Thanks to its proprietary hydratec technical fabrics and waterproof laminations, the Gilbert rugby ball handles even the roughest conditions, enhancing the life and performance of the ball. Gilbert knows what it takes to produce top quality youth rugby, and adult rugby balls, that will last multiple seasons of heavy use.
- PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION: Preparing for a rugby game is serious business. Our size 5 rugby ball, as well as our size 3 and 4 size rugby ball for kids, feature a 3-ply poly-cotton and cotton laminate panels. This means that our balls will weigh slightly more, perform better on longer kicks and passes, and generally hold its shape better than a ball of 2-ply construction.
- HAND-STITCHED: In addition to our superior triangular grip pattern, and 3 ply poly cotton panels, all Gilbert rugby balls are hand stitched for durability. Pull it out of your rugby bag and trust that It's tough as nails. With over 20 years of experience, Gilbert is a trusted brand, making top-quality training equipment that stands up to the toughest challenges, making it the ultimate rugby game ball.
- EASY CARE: Prior to training or a match, use a soft cloth, light detergent, and warm water to remove dirt and residue from your rugby ball. All training/practice rugby balls and rugby game balls come deflated. Inflate them to 9.5 psi using a rugby pump, or any ball pump. Gilbert training balls are a great choice for any rugby team or player looking for an uncompromising, high-quality rugby ball.
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