Former NRL star Matt Utai is fighting for life after being shot twice in an early morning attack in Sydney’s south west.
Emergency services were called to Macquarie St in Greenacre shortly before 6am following reports of a shooting.
The Bulldogs premiership player from 2004 was shot in the stomach and leg in the attack
Utai was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Police were told he had been shot by occupants of an SUV before they fled the scene.
Paramedics treated him at the scene before he was rushed to hospital.
A short time later, emergency services were called to Samuel St in Wiley Park after reports of a car fire. Police arrived to find an SUV well alight.
Brett Finch misses a tackle on with Matt Utai in the Grand Final match. Utai, who was shot in Greenacre on Tuesday starred in that game, scoring two tries.
Matt Utai scores try during Canterbury Bulldogs v Sydney Roosters NRL Grand Final
Fire and Rescue NSW crews extinguished the blaze and the vehicle was seized for forensic examination.
Crime scenes have been established at both locations, with Bankstown detectives launching an investigation and treating the shooting and car fire as linked.
Inquiries are ongoing.
No Cookies | CODE Sports
www.codesports.com.au