Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston finds Sydney tenant

The Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston retains a toehold in the Sydney property market - and last month quickly found a tenant for his vacant Leichhardt investment apartment.

He bought the one bedroom apartment shortly after he headed north to the North Queensland Cowboys.

It cost $370,000 off the plan in 2005.

He spent the previous two years at the Canterbury Bulldogs, scoring 10 tries in 29 games which included winning the 2004 Grand Final.

The split level Hay Street unit was offered unfurnished on a six or 12 month lease for $480 a week through Bentons Annandale agent Phil Treuen.

An open plan living area opens to a balcony in the small 45 sqm apartment which was last up for lease at $480 a week late last year. 

CoreLogic puts one bedroom units in the suburb sitting at a $586,000 median price with a $430 median rental.

Thurston's long time manager Sam Ayoub, who spotted the star's skills when he was a teenager, retains a holding in the Hay Street complex he helped co-developed.

The apartment is Thurston's only property in Sydney, however he owns four investments in Queensland.

The Cowboys skipper has called Rowes Bay home since 2013, just north of Townsville having paid $1,221,600 for the five bedroom home near the water.

The investment portfolio which he kicked off in 2006 now tally some $1.8 million in acquisition costs.

Thurston is back in to the Maroons side for the second Origin game on Wednesday having missed the first game with a shoulder injury.

He was the only player to play in all 24 games of Queensland's eight-year State of Origin winning streak from 2006.

He has played 36 consecutive Origin matches since his debut in 2005.

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.