Nathan Cleary says it's "sad" Mary Fowler's Matildas are still targeted with "unnecessary" trolling after a radio host was fired for on-air comments about Australia's national women's football team.
Marty Sheargold and Triple M parted ways earlier this week after a tirade during which he likened the Matildas to "Year 10 girls" and said he would rather "hammer a nail through the head of (his) penis" than watch their Asian Cup campaign.
NRL superstar Cleary, the boyfriend of Matildas gun Fowler, added to widespread criticism of the remarks as he prepared to lead Penrith in their round-one clash with Cronulla in Las Vegas.
"It's pretty sad that people are still saying that sort of stuff," Cleary said at the NRL's fan hub in Las Vegas.
"It's just unnecessary."
Cleary and Manchester City forward Fowler began dating in late 2023 and have since maintained a long-distance relationship.
The Panthers co-captain flew out of Vegas to briefly visit Fowler in San Diego this week with a rare day off in a busy schedule.
While Fowler and the Matildas were completing a dismal SheBelieves Cup campaign with three losses from as many games in the US, Cleary has this week been laying the final preparations for life without Jarome Luai.
Coach Ivan Cleary named Jack Cole as the Wests Tigers recruit's replacement at five-eighth, opting not to risk Blaize Talagi following the new signing's off-season shoulder surgery.
Cleary was hopeful Cole, an understudy for himself and Luai last season, would put up a fight to keep the five-eighth jersey even after Talagi recovered.
"I think he has, he's proven that through the pre-season, that's why he's starting at six," Cleary said.
"Obviously Blaize is coming off a shoulder as well. We've still got a little bit of time to go with him, but I think 'Coley' has really impressed.
"Even in his games last year, I thought they were great experiences for him to build on. It's exciting."
Cleary stayed later than any other Panthers player at the club's signing session at Las Vegas's Resorts World, where hundreds of travelling fans assembled on Thursday morning.
There were so many punters in attendance that organisers were forced to turn some away, with the squad on a tight schedule before leaving for their training session with Super League club Warrington.
Some of the Panthers' faithfuls remained in the vestibule at Resorts World, cheering as players emerged briefly to catch an elevator on a higher level above the fan zone.
"I came down for breakfast this morning, this was two hours before (the signing session) had even started, and there was already a massive line," Cleary said.
"It's pretty awesome to see. I never could've imagined this."
