Matt Utai victim of Greenacre shooting

Former NRL star Matt Utai has been shot in the chest and leg in a brazen drive-by shooting in Sydney’s south-west on Tuesday morning.

First responders were called to Macquarie Street, Greenacre about 6am after reports multiple gunshots were fired from occupants of an SUV, which sped away after Utai, 44, was shot.

Four ambulances were dispatched to Greenacre, where they discovered Utai conscious. He was treated for gunshot wounds.

He has been rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

Police were then called to nearby Samuel Street in Wiley Park, where they found a burnt-out SUV suspected to be used in the shooting. The car was seized for forensic examination after the fire was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW.

Crime scenes have been established at both locations. Bankstown detectives are treating the incidents as linked.

Former teammate Brent Sherwin, the halfback during Canterbury’s 2004 grand final win against the Roosters, said he was devastated by the news.

“My heart goes out to his partner and kids. We’re praying he comes through. I wish him all the best and hope he is OK. We’re praying he’s alright,” Sherwin said.

Sherwin said the Bulldogs’ 2004 premiership wouldn’t have been possible if not for the two tries Utai scored in the decider.

”He was a massive part of our team, not just scoring tries, but taking the hard carries on our own line,” Sherwin said.

“He never shirked away from any of it, he put his hand up and took it all. He had a big heart. We’re praying he will be OK.”

Premiership-winning prop Mark O’Meley said that Utai was “breathing OK” as he continues to receive treatment.

“Everyone has been on the group chat all morning, we just hope he’s OK,” he said.

“[Teammate] Reni Maitua has been chatting to the family and keeping us updated, which has been great.”

Utai, born in Auckland in 1981, burst onto the rugby league scene for the Bulldogs in 2002, earning the Dally M Rookie of the Year award after a first-season return that included 13 tries and 15 line-breaks.

Utai represented New Zealand on the international stage, earning a call-up following his debut first grade season. He played for the Kiwis on four occasions, before representing Samoa at the 2008 World Cup, at which he scored two tries in three matches.

He left the Bulldogs in 2009 after several years marred by injury. A move to Super League side Celtic Crusaders was aborted in 2010 amid concerns about an injury. He signed for the Wests Tigers in 2011, and stayed until the end of his playing career in 2013.

He scored 85 tries across 167 games for the Canterbury Bulldogs and Wests Tigers.