Former NRL star Matt Utai is in hospital fighting for his life after being shot multiple times in a public shooting.
The 2004 premiership-winning Canterbury winger was shot outside a home in Greenacre, in western Sydney, at around 6am on Tuesday.
Police were told a 44-year-old man was shot on the lawn in front of the home by people inside an SUV, before the vehicle fled.
The SUV was then found after being set on fire in Wiley Park, less than a 10-minute drive from where the shooting took place.
NSW police superintendent Rodney Hart said the victim of the attack suffered a gunshot wound to his lower leg and to the upper shoulder, chest area.
He was taken to hospital in a serious condition and was undergoing surgery on Tuesday morning.
“We believe at this point in time that it is a targeted attack,” Hart said. “There is no ongoing threat to the community.”
He said police were concerned about the “brazen ambush” of the victim, who had been heading to his car to go to work, and police would “do everything that they can to work out exactly why this has happened and who is involved”.
Police have linked the incidents at the home and where the car was found on fire.
Fire authorities extinguished the blaze and the SUV was seized for forensic examination.
Utai starred in the 2004 NRL grand final, scoring two tries as his Bulldogs knocked off the Sydney Roosters 16-13.
The New Zealand and Samoa international played 167 NRL games, joining the Wests Tigers in 2011 and spending three seasons there.
The 2002 Dally M Rookie of the Year finished his NRL career with 85 tries.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theguardian.com
