EXCLUSIVE: Nathan Cleary lifts lid on 'car chase' with paparazzi as Mary Fowler story broke

Panthers star Nathan Cleary has revealed he was in a "car chase" with paparazzi before he and partner Mary Fowler went public with their relationship.

Although the pair didn't 'hard launch' the relationship until January, rumours of their romance had swirled since the end of the FIFA Women's World Cup last August.

Speaking on the latest episode of Nine's Marlee and Me, which will be released on Monday, September 30, Cleary opened up to host Marlee Silva about being chased by paparazzi eager for the world exclusive.

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"Whenever I was with her, it just felt like we were two normal people ... and then all of a sudden people were taking photos of us, and then they were being published, and then there were articles, then there was people waiting out the front of my house," he explained.

"One day I was driving and I realised this car was following me ... then I took a few turns, took a few turns, they took the exact same turns. I was pretty much in a car chase.

"That was like mind blowing to me. I understand it, I guess, because people care. But, also I just thought you deserve some sort of private life.

"I probably felt more sorry for her to be honest. She's younger than I am, and after the World Cup happened she became quite a public figure.

"It all happened so quick, and now her relationship is in the public eye, it was hard to wrap your head around."

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Cleary said he knew their time was up when a photo of the pair cuddling in a Perth park was published in the Daily Mail last November. He said the fact he was shirtless led to suggestions he had orchestrated the photo opp himself.

"I swear to god I had no idea (the camera was there)," he said.

"Leading up to that, we were probably pretty blasé about how much people actually cared.

"After the park we went back to the car and then we saw someone with the big camera there, and pretty much a couple of hours later it all came out."

Cleary said much of the initial interest and intrigue in their relationship from media has waned, which has led to some positive interactions with fans.

Even if that means he's the one getting brushed for photos.

"If we go out and people see us, they're always really nice and we have some pretty nice interactions," he said.

"You can't look at it in a negative light all the time. We're actually in a position where we can have a positive influence on people and make a little kid's day by getting a photo or something like that.

"But sometimes I get brushed, 'Oh, not you'."