Former NRL Premiership Winner Hospitalised After Targeted Shooting in Sydney
A former NRL premiership winner has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition after being shot multiple times in what police believe was a targeted early-morning attack in Sydney's southwest. Emergency services were called to Macquarie Street in the suburb of Greenacre just before 6am on Tuesday following urgent reports of gunfire in the residential area.
Victim Identified as Ex-Bulldogs Winger Matt Utai
The 44-year-old victim has been identified as former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs winger Matt Utai, who played 167 NRL games during his professional rugby league career and was a key member of the club's celebrated 2004 premiership-winning side. Police have confirmed that an SUV drove past the home before multiple shots were fired directly from the vehicle, striking Utai at least twice in what appears to have been a deliberate assault.
Emergency Response and Hospitalisation
Paramedics treated the injured former athlete at the scene before police and ambulance crews escorted him under emergency conditions to St George Hospital due to the extreme seriousness of his gunshot wounds. He remains in a serious but reportedly stable condition as doctors work intensively to stabilise him in the hospital's specialised trauma unit. Medical staff are monitoring his vital signs closely while investigators begin their probe into the circumstances surrounding the violent incident.
Investigation Points to Targeted Attack
Police sources indicate the attack may have been specifically targeted, with investigators actively exploring whether the gunman may have intended to hit someone else at the location or if Utai was the intended victim. Forensic teams are examining the scene for evidence while detectives interview potential witnesses and review any available CCTV footage from the area. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the motive behind the shooting and identify those responsible for the violent assault on the former sports star.
