NRL players who bought first homes this year

PHOTO: Newcastle Knights NRL player Jack Johns in training

The Sell’s end-of-season wrap reports 2022 was relatively quiet on the property front among the NRL ranks this year, somewhat reflecting the overall market trajectory.

There were however a few standout first home buys led by Rabbitohs star Campbell Graham who spent $3.6m on a home in Kensington.

Panthers winger Brian To’o became a first-home buyer, paying $859,000 for a home at Ropes Crossing, and then becoming a hero when he advised it was for his parents.

NRL junior Jack Johns bought at Merewether during the season.

Roosters captain James Tedesco dropped the most any current NRL player has spent before, paying just over $5m with his fiancee Maria Glinellis for a residence at Hunters Hill.

South Sydney ­Rabbitohs NRL star Latrell Mitchell went close by spending a record $4.3m at Ramsgate Beach with his wife, Brielle Mercy.

Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook was a seller, offloading his Miranda investment for $803,000. He had paid $640,000 for the two-bed unit six years ago. It became a $550-a-week rental in 2018 after he traded up to a $1.5m Woolooware home, which he recently renovated.

The Johns Merewether apartment was fully renovated, with new herringbone floors.

It features a U-shaped kitchen with a breakfast bar overlooking the living area, as well as a contemporary bathroom with a stand-alone bath.

Inside the Merewether home.

It was pitched at couples, downsizers or investors before Johns snapped it up just a week into its marketing, with the price guide between $780,000 and $820,000.

It spans the full length of the top floor of a 1980s-built block of 15.

Johns, who turns 25 later this month, is the son of Knights legend Matty Johns and wife Trish. He was born in Newcastle, and has played for the Knights since 2021 after a move from the Rabbitohs.

Merewether, of course, has been a favoured team hangout, especially back in the days of Barry Bradley being licensee at the Knights’ preferred watering hole, the Burwood Inn.

At one stage in his captaincy, Andrew Johns, Jack’s uncle, owned at three properties in the suburb.

Matty held two properties, selling for $955,000 on Curry Street in 2002 and at $1.035m on Lloyd Street in 2004.

Matty, a Fox Sports host of The Matty Johns show, has been based on the Northern Beaches for almost two decades. Jack played his junior rugby league for the Harbord United Devils.

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