A 33-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a popular Mackay rugby league player after an alleged stabbing in a "random, chance meeting" in north Queensland.
Queensland Police have confirmed 25-year-old Birdsall Fa'apepele's body was found near a caravan park at Paget, in Mackay's south, after 3am on Tuesday.
Mr Fa'apepele's body was located beside the Bruce Highway about 700m from the caravan park.
Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said the 33-year-old is a caravan park resident.
He is due to appear in a Mackay court on Wednesday.
Det Insp Armitt said police found the body after a man made a triple zero call and "told police he had stabbed another male".
The man then met officers when they arrived at the park and "indicated to police where he had stabbed that male".
"It is unusual. It is not something that happens very regularly," Det Insp Armitt said.
"But at this stage we have to go with how the evidence presents itself."
He said police believe the 33-year-old and Mr Fa'apepele had met at the caravan park.
"It was a random, chance meeting," he said.
Tributes began pouring in for Mr Fa'apepele who was prominent in Mackay's rugby league community, playing first grade for Magpies.
"Birdsall's family have been contacted and are obviously gravely upset and distressed about the news of his passing and we wish to extend our condolences to them," Det Insp Armitt said.
Police are appealing for information from caravan park residents who saw anything from 1.30am to 3am on Tuesday.
They are also asking for information or dash cam footage from anyone driving on Bruce Highway between Farrelly's Road and Boundary Road from 2.30am to 3am on Tuesday.
