Eric Grothe Jnr sells in Sutherland Shire

Retired Parramatta Eels star Eric Grothe Jr - who was named winger of the year at the 2005 Dally M Awards - has sold his Sutherland Shire investment for $1.2 million after it failed to find a buyer at its auction last month.

Pulse Property agent Rochelle Mills had issued $1.1 million price guidance for the Caringbah property that cost Grothe Jr $565,000 in 2007.

It now comes with a 2009-built four bedroom home on the 525 square metre lot. It was listed in 2011 when the auction bidding reached $980,000.

The property was advertised as "a great opportunity to redevelop and build your dream home".

Grothe, who also offloaded a two bedroom Cronulla apartment in 2012 for $472,000, is splitting his time between Sydney and the Gold Coast, where model, actress and singer girlfriend Sophie Monk has just set up camp.

She's just spent $1.1 million on a five bedroom waterfront in Helensvale, round the corner from her parents' house.

Outside of footy Grothe Jr is a keen musician and continues to showcase his musical talents as a regular member of the band on Channel Nine's The NRL Footy Show.

This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph.