Son of former Kiwis player reportedly targeted by hitmen in Spain
Monday 28 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated 
Iziah Utai, the son of former Kiwis winger Matt Utai, has reportedly survived an attempted assassination in Marbella, Spain. The incident is said to be linked to a violent underworld feud in Sydney.
Key facts
4 facts
- Iziah Utai is the son of former Kiwis and Bulldogs winger Matt Utai.
- Iziah Utai is wanted by NSW Police for an alleged murder in May 2025.
- The alleged attack occurred in Marbella, Spain.
- Lorenzo Lemalu was shot dead in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in May.
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Iziah Utai, the son of former Kiwis winger Matt Utai, has reportedly survived an attempted hit by armed men in Marbella, Spain. The incident is described by sources as a botched home invasion involving hitmen. Utai appeared to address the attack in a social media post on Tuesday, stating, “Better luck next time. O wait there won’t be.”
Utai is a suspected senior member of the Coconut Cartel and is wanted by NSW Police regarding an alleged underworld murder in May 2025. He has been hiding overseas during a violent conflict between the Coconut Cartel and the Alameddine crime family. Recent images linked to Utai have placed him in Albania, Lebanon, and Asia.
The alleged attack in Spain follows the May killing of another Coconut Cartel figure, Lorenzo Lemalu, in Vietnam. Utai's family has also been affected by the ongoing feud. In February, Matt Utai was shot in Greenacre, Sydney, in an incident police suspected was an attack targeting his son.
Other incidents involving Utai's family include his Guildford West home being set on fire and another family property being shot at in February. Additionally, a barber shop owned by Utai was firebombed on consecutive nights in May 2025.
Where reports differ
- One report suggests Utai was previously suspected of hiding in Thailand, while another notes images have placed him in Albania, Lebanon, and Asia.
Compiled from reports by NZ Herald and Stuff.