Nathan Cleary opens up on how his romance with Mary Fowler has changed his life - as their Aussie reunion in December is back on

NRL superstar Nathan Cleary has revealed how his budding romance with Matildas young gun Mary Fowler has impacted his life.

Cleary, 26, is tipped to reunite with his girlfriend on December 20 when she is in Melbourne.

The Manchester City ace - who this week was a late withdrawal from a Matildas supporter event at Commbank Stadium in Sydney's west - will instead now greet a series of kids at the Rise & Shine Kindergarten in Carlton, after being announced as their business ambassador.

It comes as the notoriously private Cleary admitted being in the public eye comes with the territory of life as a high-profile athlete.

'At the end of the day we don't have much of a private life,' he told Nine News.

'But this is the job I chose ... I recognise we can't control some things.

'I will keep moving forward, not think about it or let it change the way I go about things.'

Amid ongoing speculation, the sporting couple went public with their romance in November ahead of a Matildas Olympic qualifier in Perth.

Cleary was also recently announced as Sportsman of the Year at the GQ Awards night in Sydney, an accolade he found 'humbling.'

It follows the halfback winning a third successive NRL premiership with the Panthers.

The playmaker was instrumental as his team overturned a 16-point deficit to stun the Broncos 26-24 in what was an epic decider.

In doing so Cleary collected his second Clive Churchill Medal and has previously won three State of Origin series with NSW plus a World Cup for the Kangaroos.

Naturally, Cleary was asked at the GQ gala event why Fowler - who was in England - hadn't joined him on the red carpet.

'Where's Mary?' one journalist asked. Cleary responded with: 'I knew this was coming,' as he blushed. 'I'm just here by myself... no plus one.'