Why loved-up Nathan Cleary & Mary Fowler struggle to keep relationship going

Nathan Cleary sat at Perth's HBF Park to cheer on his girlfriend and Matildas star Mary Fowler against China Taipei on Wednesday night - and it may be one of the last chances the couple have to see each other over the next six months.

Aussie sport's hottest romance went public on Wednesday as Fowler and a shirtless Cleary shared some tender moments in a Perth park.

Just a day after Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed photos of the NRL superstar and his soccer ace girlfriend spending time together before the Matildas' Olympics qualifying match, they took it up several notches as they cuddled and held hands.

Since dating rumours first surfaced back in August, the nation has been obsessed with the couple, but their packed playing schedules will mean they will now have to negotiate a long distance relationship for the next six months.

Fowler, who plays for Manchester City in England's Barclay's Women's Super League, is due to fly back to the UK on Thursday to be ready for the team's Sunday match against Arsenal.

Manchester City has at least a further 21 games between now and May 18, when they finish up their season.

Cleary is expected to attend training for the Panthers on November 22 ahead of their season kicking off in the first week of March, although the injury he sustained in the grand final could set his return back.

The loved-up couple will have a brief window to see each other over the Christmas period, with Fowler's season pausing for a month and Cleary getting a two-week break.

It is anticipated that Fowler will fly to Australia as she is booked in to appear at a Matildas fan event at Sydney's CommBank Stadium on December 21.

Unfortunately, the couple won't be able to catch up in February when Penrith travel to the UK to play Wigan in the World Club Challenge - as Fowler will be in Australia with the Matildas for Olympic qualifying matches.

Cleary and Fowler's high-profile long-distance situation is bringing back memories of rugby league star Solomon Haumono's whirlwind relationship with UK model Gabrielle Richens in the 1990s.

Richens rose to fame in Australia after playing a stripper in a controversial Virgin Atlantic advert, which saw her given the nickname 'The Pleasure Machine'.

But the lengths Haumono went to in order to be with her that made headlines around the world.

The pair enjoyed a few years together after meeting at a Sydney nightclub.

In 1998, Haumono - who was then a contracted player with the Canterbury Bulldogs - jetted from Australia to the UK to be with her without telling his family or club.

However, it was later revealed the story was just a rouse by Haumono to get out of his $400,000 contract so he could move to the St George Illawarra Dragons.