BREAKING NEWSMan charged with murder over the alleged stabbing of a rugby league player in Marrickville

A man will face court over the alleged stabbing death of another man on a busy city street.

The 31-year-old was arrested at Concord in Sydneys inner-west on Wednesday afternoon and is due to face Burwood Local Court charged with murder on Thursday.

Sitaleki Filihiahekava, 32, died at the scene on Monday night after being stabbed outside a restaurant on Marrickville Road.

Police canvassed CCTV footage from the suburban strip as they searched for his alleged attacker.

Some restaurants had to cease trading following the stabbing, which occurred about 7.30pm.

Police believe the stabbing was a targeted attack and are investigating possible links to organised crime. 

Filihiahekava was believed to have been dining at one himself before leaving, briefly meeting up with another man before he was allegedly stabbed dead, police said.

Filihiahekava was an associate of Dejan Danny Radulovic, who was killed in July last year in Balmain, after being brutally beaten and stabbed.

Radulovic was on parole for drug supply at the time, and police suspect the attack was over a drug-related dispute.

Filihiahekava was also friendly with William Siale, who alongside his brother Eric, were shot while sitting in a barber shop in July last year.

The Siale brothers survived the shooting which occurred on the same street Mr Filihiahekava lost his life on Monday.

Family and friends converged on the scene not long after the attack.

It was a highly emotive crime scene, Acting Superintendent Ben Kennis told reporters.

A man has been arrested after popular rugby league player Sitaleki Leki Filihiahekava, 32 (pictured) was allegedly stabbed to death outside the Guzman y Gomez store in Marrickville just before 8pm on Monday

Sitaleki Filihiahekava (pictured centre) was a popular player with the Mascot Juniors, a semi-professional rugby league football based in Mascot, south Sydney

Cards attached to flowers left at the scene on Tuesday morning paid tribute to Big Leki.

Rest in peace my brother, read another.

Supt Kennis said investigators believed the attack was somewhat targeted.

It was not a random attack on Marrickville Rd, the community can be assured of that, he said.

Mascot Juniors rugby league club paid tribute the former player following his death.

Leki was a much loved player of our club who played with his heart on his sleeve (and always with a joke and a smile), every time he took the field with those he called his brothers, the club said on social media.

Heartbroken loved ones of a young man stabbed outside a popular Mexican restaurant have returned to the scene of the shocking crime to leave flowers and pay their respects

Loved ones left flowers and cards outside the restaurant where Mr Filihiahekava was killed throughout the day on Monday with a vigil held on Tuesday night