Two men accused of murdering Jakob Opacic, the brother of NRL player Tom Opacic, in a Gold Coast crash have faced court.
The 28-year-old came off his motorcycle and died on the Nerang Murwillumbah Road at Natural Bridge on Friday morning.
Police will allege material from the vehicle driven by the pair was found at the scene.
Minutes before the incident, Opacic was involved in an argument with Steven Dale Latter, 28, and Benjamin Charles Johnson, 29, who were both mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
Mr Opacic, whose brother Tom plays for the Parramatta Eels, had reportedly been at the jail visiting a woman on the day of her release.
Johnson surrendered to police at Laidley about 2am on Saturday.
Police impounded a vehicle found in that area which is undergoing forensic examination.
Latter was arrested on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday afternoon.
Johnson appeared in the dock, removing his face mask to mouth "Love you, mum" to his mother in the court gallery, who wiped away tears as he was led from the court.
Latter's defence lawyer Campbell MacCallum said the death was a "tragic incident".
"It is unclear exactly what the allegation is at this stage. The police, of course, are alleging it wasn't an accident," he said outside court.
"Police are alleging that the intention was to murder or take the life of the deceased, but the facts certainly don't completely support that at this stage."
Mr MacCallum said outside court that it appeared the defendants were the sole witnesses to the incident, and police would allege material from the car the pair was driving was located at the scene.
"Apart from that, there are no eyewitnesses to the collision."
Both defendants declined to be interviewed
"I understand everything was quite calm at the correctional centre and there was some sort of altercation later on, but it is unclear whether that altercation had actually anything to do with the deceased."
"He [my client] is quite shocked and upset ... he certainly is very despondent at the moment."
Both men did not apply for bail and were remanded in custody for mention on August 3.
Investigations continue.
© AAP 2021