- Former St George Illawarra NRL star spent the night in custody
- Arrested on Sunday in Warrawong, located on the NSW south coast
Former NRL player Talatau ‘Junior’ Amone spent Sunday night in custody after being charged with common assault, following an incident where he allegedly spat at a woman in a Wollongong pub.
Mr. Amone, aged 22, was arrested on Sunday and faces one count of common assault.
He was denied bail by police and remained in custody overnight.
Police initiated investigations on Sunday afternoon based on reports of an alleged assault that occurred earlier at a pub on Keira Street, Wollongong.
Reports indicate that around 2 AM, Mr. Amone was involved in a dispute with the woman before allegedly spitting at her.
According to police, the woman was known to Mr. Amone.
He was arrested at approximately 6:15 PM at a residence in Warrawong and taken to Wollongong Police Station, where he was charged and denied bail.
The former playmaker for St George Illawarra is scheduled to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Monday.
Talatau Amone (pictured during a court appearance in June) is in more trouble with police after allegedly spitting at a woman in a Wollongong pub
The former Dragons star avoided jail last December when he was sentenced for an attack that involved arming himself with a hammer and pursuing a tradesman off a roof
He narrowly avoided jail last December after being sentenced for an incident where he armed himself with a hammer and chased a tradesman off a roof.
Amone and his father, Talatau Amone, were found guilty in October of multiple charges, including assault, relating to an event outside their family home in Warrawong in November 2022.
Talatau Amone pleaded not guilty to charges of property damage, intimidation, entering premises with the intent to commit an indictable offense, and actual bodily harm assault.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming criticized the pair’s behavior as ‘appalling’ while individually sentencing the father and son for their involvement in the contentious confrontation.
Junior Amone received a two-year Intensive Corrections Order, which is basically a prison sentence, but to be served in the community.
Ms. Fleming described the NRL player’s actions as ‘appalling.’
Amone (pictured centre, outside court in December last year) was sentenced to a two-year Intensive Corrections Order over the hammer attack
“You armed yourself with a hammer; the victims were vulnerable, and one was on a roof, unable to escape,” she said.
She added it was a ‘tragedy’ that the conviction could impact the 21-year-old’s sports career and financial situation, as he supports family members both in Australia and abroad.
“It is unfortunate that this could jeopardize your future in the profession you cherish,” she stated.
“This is your tragedy, not mine.”
Both Amone and his father were fined $1000 each for damaging property and are required to pay a total of $13,481 in compensation.
In late 2023, Amone’s $500,000 annual contract with the Dragons was terminated, and he was indefinitely deregistered by the NRL.
