Kiwis league player beaten up in Sydney

Steve Matai in action for his NRL club Manly. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwis league centre Steve Matai was knocked unconscious during an alleged assault by several men on him and clubmate Anthony Watmough in Sydney early on Sunday.

Former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe, the new chief executive of the duo's NRL club Manly, said they were approached by a group of men outside Matai's house in an apparently unprovoked attack.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that the three men had come from a nearby party.

"Steve Matai was hit to the ground, totally unconscious. He was being kicked and punched and goodness knows what. Anthony Watmough jumped on top of his teammate to try and protect him, and he copped the same thing," Lowe told Channel Nine.

The pair were taken to Mona Vale Hospital where they were treated for grazes and head wounds, then discharged.

- AAP, NZPA