Former NRL star Matt Utai is in hospital fighting for his life after being shot multiple times on his front lawn in Greenacre, western Sydney, in what police are treating as a targeted ambush.
The 44-year-old, who played for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Wests Tigers, was shot in the stomach and leg at about 6am on Tuesday. Police believe shots were fired from an SUV, which was later found burned out in Wiley Park.
NSW Police Superintendent Rodney Hart described the attack as a 'brazen ambush' and said officers are investigating whether the intended target was Utai or someone he knows. Utai had walked out of his family home and was about to drive to work when he was shot.
He was 'obviously in a fair bit of pain' but able to speak with arriving police who applied first aid. Paramedics stabilised him before he was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition and underwent surgery. The case has been handed to the organised crime-focused Raptor Squad, as the motive remains unclear with no known links to criminal activity.
Utai starred in the 2004 NRL grand final, scoring two tries in the Bulldogs' 16-13 victory over the Sydney Roosters. The New Zealand and Samoa international played 167 NRL games and finished his career with 85 tries.
