Cronulla Sharks Jersey Flegg player Ratu Viliame Koroitamana was stood down from the club's finals clash against Canterbury on Saturday after being charged alongside a teenager accused of using a drone to conduct surveillance in the lead-up to a fatal shooting.
The 19-year-old had been named on the bench for Saturday morning's finals encounter with the Bulldogs, only to be removed from the side an hour before kick-off.
Koroitamana was arrested early Friday morning alongside 18-year-old Jimmy Schulz, who is facing a murder charge over the death of electrician Joshua MacDonald.
Koroitamana has not been accused of any involvement in MacDonald's death.
Instead, police allege Koroitamana was driving a vehicle in West Hoxton on Friday in which Schulz was operating a drone while allegedly carrying out another surveillance operation.
The Sharks player was charged with participating in a criminal group and driving on a suspended licence before being granted strict conditional bail in Liverpool Local Court on Friday.
Koroitamana remains before the courts over the criminal group and driving charges, while police continue their investigation into MacDonald's death.
