LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Nathan Cleary faced a barrage of questions from NRL fans ahead of the grand final as he gears up to make history with the Penrith Panthers.
The halfback, known for his slick moves on the field, couldn't dodge the spotlight when it came to his shoulder injury that had everyone talking after the Sharks match.
With the pressure mounting and Storm legend Billy Slater poking holes in the severity of his injury, Cleary knew he needed all the support he could get.
However, he revealed that his partner and Matildas sensation, Mary Fowler, wouldn't be by his side at the stadium on the big day.
Fowler, currently kicking goals for Manchester City in the Women's Super League over in England, has a match scheduled against West Ham this weekend.
While she may not have started the season in the starting lineup, she's made her presence felt coming off the bench in both games.
When asked if Fowler would fly back to catch him in action for the fourth consecutive grand final, Cleary flashed a grin and said, "She's staying put in England.
Her season just kicked off, so she'll be watching from afar.
But I know she'll be cheering me on, even if she's not here in person."