Matt Utai fighting for his life after being shot in a drive by

Bulldogs premiership hero Matt Utai was shot twice in a drive-by attack in Western Sydney this morning.

Emergency services were called to Macquarie Street in Greenacre shortly before 6am following reports of a shooting.

The Bulldogs premiership hero was reportedly at home going about his usual morning routine when an SUV sped past and shots were fired. Utai was hit in the stomach and leg.

Paramedics treated the former NRL winger at the scene before he was rushed to St George Hospital in a critical condition. Police have since confirmed he remains in a serious condition.

A short time later, emergency services were called to Samuel Street in nearby Wiley Park following reports of a car fire. Police arrived to find an SUV well alight. Fire and Rescue NSW crews extinguished the blaze and the vehicle was seized for forensic examination.

Crime scenes have been established at both locations. Bankstown detectives are investigating and are treating the shooting and car fire as linked. Inquiries are ongoing.

Fresh reports have also shed light on whether the attack was targeted. It has been speculated that Utai’s son may be affiliated with a Sydney gang and that the shooter may have been aiming for someone else but hit Utai instead. Police have not confirmed those claims.

Utai, born in Auckland in 1981, played 162 NRL games across his career. He made his name with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, where he was named the 2002 Dally M Rookie of the Year and was part of the club’s 2004 premiership winning side.

He later had a stint with the Wests Tigers and represented New Zealand internationally before turning out for Samoa at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

After retiring from the NRL, Utai continued playing in local competitions in Sydney.