Former Portland resident Shaun Fathers, 41, has been charged with murder after a bar brawl at a hotel in Kingscliff, northern NSW, which left a 51-year-old local farmer dead.
Grievous bodily harm charges were upgraded to murder when the man, Mr Fathers and former NRL star Craig Field, 39, allegedly hit, died of massive head injuries.
Paramedics and police responded to reports of an assault outside the Kingscliff Beach Hotel and on arrival found the victim, Kelvin Kane, lying unconscious on the ground.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed on Mr Kane before he was conveyed to Tweed Heads Hospital for emergency treatment.
Mr Kane died in hospital at 1.15pm on Monday July 16 and neither Mr Fathers or Mr Field applied for bail.
Both have been remanded in custody and will appear in Lismore court on August 21.
Read more about Shaun Fathers and his days as a high profile Group 10 league player in Thursday's Lithgow Mercury.