It started as heated words exchanged across the Kingscliff Beach Hotel during a Sunday afternoon drinking session.

The former South Sydney, Manly and Tigers halfback Craig Field, 39, and Shaun Fathers, 41, became involved in a running dispute with a local northern New South Wales cattle farmer and father of two, Kelvin Kane, 50.

It continued, police said, until the pub closed at 9pm, when the three men allegedly went to the hotel car park to sort it out.

Mr Kane was then allegedly ''king hit'' once in the head, falling to the ground and suffering fatal head injuries. He died in Tweed Heads Hospital at 1pm yesterday.

Mr Field, who played 183 first-grade rugby league games in Australia over an 11-year career, and Mr Fathers were yesterday charged with his murder.

''There was a confrontation in the hotel during the afternoon and evening,'' Tweed Heads Superintendent Stuart Wilkins said.

''At the closing of the hotel it has moved to the car park where it's taken a violent turn. We believe it was one significant punch that caused this man to fall to the ground and hit his head.''

Police and paramedics found Mr Kane unconscious outside the pub on Marine Parade about 9.15pm. They tried to revive him before he was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital and placed on life support.

Mr Field and Mr Fathers were arrested at a nearby home and taken to the local police station where they were charged yesterday morning with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

After Mr Kane's death the charges were upgraded to murder when the pair appeared before Tweed Heads Local Court yesterday afternoon.

Neither man applied for bail and the matter was adjourned to Lismore Magistrates Court.

Roy Bartholomew, who sold cattle for Mr Kane last week, said Mr Kane was a ''man's man'' who ''loved company and loved life''. ''He's very open and relaxed and happy-go-lucky,'' he said. Last night Mr Kane's family was too upset to speak publicly.

Field had moved to the Kingscliff area with his family three years ago to work as an electrician and become head coach of the Cudgen Hornets A-grade side in the local rugby league competition. He also played in the side before retiring last year.

The former halfback had moved to the north coast from Wagga Wagga not long after he was acquitted of coercing a 17-year-old boy to rob him at the local sportsmen's club in February 2007.

Field began his league career with Souths in 1990 and became captain in 1994 before leaving them in 1996. He joined Balmain Tigers in 1999, which became Wests Tigers in 2000. He also played in France.

- Sydney Morning Herald