De Vere won the 1997 Brisbane Broncos season's rookie of the year award and also played in their Super League Grand Final win over the Cronulla Sharks. In 1998 De Vere, a last-minute inclusion to the side due to a finger injury to former Kangaroo Tour winger Michael Hancock, scored the opening try in Brisbane's 38–12 1998 NRL grand final win against the Canterbury Bulldogs. The 2000 Brisbane Broncos season's top point-scorer, De Vere made it two premierships in four seasons with the club when he landed three goals in their 2000 NRL grand final win over the Sydney Roosters.