Matt Utai: Former Bulldogs, Wests Tigers NRL star rushed to hospital after reportedly being shot in Greenacre

Former NRL star Matt Utai has reportedly been shot at least twice in an early morning attack in south-western Sydney.

Emergency services have locked down multiple areas of south-western Sydney after Utai reportedly received multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and leg outside a home in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Residents woke to chaos in the streets after Utai was hit by gunshots at around 6am outside the front of a suburban property in Macquarie Street, Greenacre.

NSW Police confirmed officers responded to an emergency public place shooting call and were told a man had been shot by the occupants of an SUV, which then sped away from the scene.

Ambulance paramedics treated a 44-year-old man at the scene for multiple gunshot wounds before he was transported to St George hospital in a serious condition.

A short time later police were called to Samuel Street, Wiley Park, following reports of a car fire where they found an SUV well alight.

The fire was extinguished and the car has been seized for forensic examination.

Police have established crime scenes at both locations with Bankstown detectives treating both incidents as linked.

Utai played 167 games in the NRL for the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Wests Tigers and was part of the 2004 NRL Premiership-winning Bulldogs side in their 16-13 victory over the Sydney Roosters.

The compact winger was also crowned the Dally M Rookie of the Year in 2003 after scoring 21 tries in 27 games.

2GB are reporting that CCTV shows five shots being fired at Utai who was hit by at least two bullets and people in the street are now packing their bags to temporarily relocate as crime gang wars escalate in the area.

Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.