Amone, a Dragons player, was found guilty of a hammer attack.
Talatau “Junior” Amone’s immediate playing future has been thrown into doubt when he was found guilty of a hammer attack on a roofing worker, which could result in jail time.
Amone pled not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm in company, property destruction, and intimidation in connection with an incident in November 2022. However, the 21-year-old was found guilty of all charges by magistrate Gabriel Fleming in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday morning.
“We respect the decision of any court, whether we agree with it or not,” said Amone’s lawyer, Elias Tabchouri.
“We will get through that process and consider any possible appeal in the future.”
Amone will be sentenced on December 6. Asked what the outcome meant for his playing career, Tabchouri said: “That is a matter for the NRL integrity commission.
“We are focusing on resolving these matters at this stage.”
The Dragons confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that Amone had again been stood down.
“The Dragons acknowledge the guilty verdict handed down to player Talatau Amone in Wollongong Court today in relation to an assault last November,” the club said.
“As a result of this outcome, Amone has been stood down from all club activities until further notice.
“The club will make no further comment at this time as court proceedings continue.”
Amone fronted court with his father, who was also found guilty of charges stemming from the incident, being intimidation, destroying property and entering a building or land with the intention to commit an indictable offence. The pair remain on bail ahead of sentencing.
The younger Amone was suspended first under the NRL’s no-fault, stand-down policy, only to have the ban overturned once the issue was prosecuted in the Local Court. The case was previously scheduled for District Court, where the maximum sentence for willfully causing grievous bodily harm in company is 14 years in prison. In August, Amone’s more serious assault accusation was dropped and dismissed.
Tabchouri successfully petitioned for the NRL’s stand-down rule to be lifted, despite the fact that the highest sentence allowed in the Local Court is merely five years.
The National Rugby League has been approached for comment.
The Dragons have already lost half Jayden Sullivan to the Tigers as a result of the decision. After his original release request was denied, captain and halfback Ben Hunt has suggested that he will grudgingly finish out his contract, while Kyle Flanagan, the son of new coach Shane, is also a possibility in the halves.
