Players and fans have paid tribute to former St George Illawarra Dragons and Cronulla Sharks player Lance Thompson, who died on Thursday night.
The 40-year-old was alone when he died and was found by police and paramedics at a property in Cronulla at about 9:00pm.
Police said his death was not suspicious and there was no evidence of self-harm.
They said investigations were still ongoing.
Thompson played more than 200 first grade games, mostly for the Dragons, before retiring in 2008.
Former Tigers player Keith Galloway said on Twitter that Thompson was a "champion bloke and player" and a "local hero".
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman and former Queensland premier Peter Beattie said it was a "very sad day" and expressed condolences to Thompson's family.
Thompson was a forward who played prop or second row.
He played for St George between 1995 and 1998, and later St George Illawarra between 1999 and 2005.
He debuted as a 17-year-old for the Dragons in 1995 and played a total of 201 games for the club.
He left the Dragons at the end of the 2005 season to join the Cronulla Sharks, retiring three years later after an ongoing knee injury.
He played 239 games in his 13-year career, including a grand final in 1999.
Former St George Illawarra player Ashton Sims described Thompson as "one of the toughest forwards I've played with".
"He looked after all of us young guys".
