MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Nathan Cleary should consider UK Super League move to be with Matilda star Mary Fowler

I’m sure “Love God” is the last term you think of when the name Spudd Carroll crops up.

Old front-rowers aren’t normally regarded as having their fingers on the pulse when it comes to matters of the heart.

And while you won’t see me giving relationship advice to air heads on MAFs any time soon, I do know a thing or two about love, having been happily married for more than two decades.

That’s why I feel well equipped to have a word in Nathan Cleary’s ear and tell him to follow his heart and join partner Mary Fowler fulltime in England.

I came to that conclusion after watching Cleary’s press conference ahead of the round five clash with North Queensland.

There was not only a bounce in his step and a grin on his face, but his words told me where his head might be at.

At that stage I didn’t know Mary was in the country with the Matildas, but Cleary’s upbeat demeanour gave it away.

“I’ll try to get up to Newcastle on Monday night for the (Matildas) game ... It feels like a little refresh whenever I get to see her, and I’m definitely grateful for it,” Cleary smiled to the cameras.

I will get to Nathan in a minute.

But first, a step back in time.

I played with Solomon Haumono at Manly for three seasons – 1994-96, losing a grand final with him along the way (1995).

Sol left for the Bulldogs in 1997 and it wasn’t long before all hell broke loose.

The following year the big man fled the country, supposedly to be with Gabrielle “the Pleasure Machine” Richens, an English model.

I say “supposedly” because it eventually turned out to be a ruse to get Haumono out of his contract with the Dogs to join St George.

Anyway, at the time I couldn’t believe anyone would give up professional rugby league to chase love and said so publicly.

I probably still believe it to some extent.

The great thing about Cleary is he can have his cake and eat it, too.

He doesn’t have to quit rugby league to be with the love of his life.

He can continue to play professional rugby league in the north of England and be close to Mary as she plies her trade for Manchester City.

The Penrith superstar could join that rare list of players to claim titles in the NRL and Super League.

Cleary’s won four premierships with Penrith, landed two Clive Churchill medals and played in three winning State of Origin series with NSW.

He’s represented Australia in five Tests, helping the Kangaroos to a World Cup victory in 2021.

He will be part of the revived Kangaroo tour at the end of the year, providing he is fit.

At 27, the halfback’s legacy in the game is ensured.

There’s not much more for him to prove.

I spent a season in England with the London Broncos in 1998 and hated every minute of it.

It was cold, expensive and bloody boring and I had a bad case of homesickness.

I couldn’t wait to jump on that Qantas jumbo and get back to the Australian sunshine and a new contract at Souths.

While Cleary will no doubt miss family and friends should he move to the UK, he will at least have one familiar face right beside him all the way.

And the exchange rate won’t hurt him as much as it hurt me!

I’m sure he and Mary have discussed a move and I hope he does take the leap.

It would not only be a great love story, but Cleary’s move into unchartered rugby league waters would also capture the hearts of fans in two countries.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

There is a select group of NRL front-rowers I regularly text.

I issue them with personal challenges before each game and dare them to meet my expectations.

It might be to make 200m or to take every kick-off return.

Sometimes I will ask them to make 20 hit-ups or X number of tackles.

It’s all done with the blessing of their respective coaches and I get a real thrill when they hit their goals and they send a return text after fulltime.

Terrell May is not part of my text group – yet – but I did challenge him face-to-face when he was playing for North Sydney’s NSW Cup team a couple of years ago.

I was commentating on the game and went to the sheds before kick-off to grab May.

He had no idea who I was and probably thought I was a compete lunatic, but I mapped out four areas of the game I wanted him to dominate.

He went beyond what I asked, nailing every single assignment.

So, it has come as little surprise May is killing it for the Wests Tigers.

And the best part is yet to come for the young tearaway.