"John" says he was travelling home from Homebush after the Penrith-Canterbury preliminary final on Saturday night when he saw an argument erupt on the train. He intervened as the dispute become more heated.

Police say one man punched John in the face multiple times while another man held his arms back. Both alleged attackers were wearing Penrith Panthers jerseys, the team that had lost the evening's game.

Other commuters separated John from the alleged attackers as the train approached Central but the two men were seen running towards Chalmers Street after it pulled up to the station.

Paramedics took John to St Vincent's Hospital where he had plastic surgery for a cut to his lip. He also suffered a broken nose, two black eyes and a cut to his forehead.

The first man shown in the CCTV image is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 25-30 years old with a fair complexion, medium/solid build, light brown spiky hair, a cropped beard and a large tattoo on his right arm.

He was wearing a black Panthers jersey, blue jeans and brown shoes.

The second man is also described as being of Caucasian appearance, 25-30 years old with a medium/solid build, light brown/ginger hair, a ginger cropped beard and a Southern Cross tattoo on his right shoulder.

He was wearing a black Panthers jersey with white and black horizontal stripes, blue jeans and black thongs.