NRL's Darren Lockyer buys NSW weekender

It's not just the cane toads coming across the border.

Darren Lockyer, the Brisbane Bronco and Maroon legend, and his wife Loren have bought a weekender property just inside NSW.

Rather than Noosa, Port Douglas or Surfers Paradise, the Brisbane based Channel 9 commentator has spent $770,000 at little known, Crystal Creek.

It got him a four hectare estate in the lush Northern Rivers district, near Murwillumbah.

It has been an equestrian property featuring a dressage arena, stables and electrified paddocks.

But Lockyer tells me he and wife, Loren have other plans for their family of three boys.

"We intend to use the property as a hobby farm for our children including quad bikes, motorbikes and farm animals”

There's a three bedroom main homestead and separate one bedroom accommodation. 

They have done well as the property had been on and off the market for over five years. It's initial asking price was $1 million.

Northern Rivers agent Wally Trankle says the buying interest from north of the border had increased as roadworks made the travel time to Brisbane a quicker trip for weekenders.

In recent times the NRL star has become a property mogul since his 2011 retirement, although he's been interested in property since he was a 16 year old apprentice builder. 

During a mid-90s overseas tour with the Kangaroo's he got up at 2.30am the morning of a test match to participate an auction over the phone.

It worked out well for the versatile five eighth, who secured the house over the phone and the team won the test.

Darren has owned in New South Wales before. He had a Hillsdale investment property that he sold for $900,000 off the market in January this year.

Lockyer, now a rugby commentator, is considered one of the most successful players in history.

He closed the book on a glittering career in 2011 having won four grand finals, a record six consecutive State of Origin series wins and a World Cup in his 17 year career. 

It's not all one way traffic into northern NSW. Melbourne Storm star Billy Slater and wife, Nicole sold their redundant Byron Bay hinterland retreat earlier this year.

He had rarely found time to visit let alone renovate.

Some of the Crabbes Creek locals were hoping for a rugby academy, but Slater instead took the bullish $1.375 million offer.

Slater had told the Telegraph in 2014, he fancied himself settling down on the 36 hectare property to train a few horses as a hobby.

This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.