A young man in a business short walks away from a court building, flanked by supporters.
Junior Amone has been sentenced to a two-year corrections order.(ABC Illawarra: Kelly Fuller)
NRL player Talatau “Junior” Amone has avoided jail over a rooftop hammer attack on a tradesman in a Wollongong suburb last year.
Key points:
The court heard that Junior Amone’s father urged him on during the assault
Talatau “Dal” Amone was sentenced to 12 months behind bars, which may be appealed
The St George Illawarra Dragons say it will work with the NRL Integrity Unit to determine the “next appropriate steps”
The St George Illawarra Dragons stood down Amone in October after being found guilty of the November 2022 assault in Warrawong in Wollongong Local Court.
In court on Monday Magistrate Gabriel Fleming described the 21-year-old’s behaviour as “appalling” and sentenced him to a 12-month intensive community corrections order.
“You armed yourself with a hammer, the victims were vulnerable, the victim was up on a roof, there was nowhere to go,” Magistrate Fleming said.
“You are 21 — you are not a child.
“You have to be responsible for your own behaviour.
“This is a tragedy — this could jeopardise your entire future in the profession you love.
“This is your tragedy, not mine.”
Father was ‘instigator’
Junior’s father, Talatau “Dal” Amone, was also found guilty of assault and was sentenced to two years and six months behind bars.
With time already served, he will be eligible for parole in 12 months.
Junior was also ordered to undertake 300 hours of community service.
Father and son, who were supported by about 20 people at the court, sat quietly beside each other as Magistrate Fleming delivered their sentences.
The court heard Dal was annoyed that tradesman Jai King had parked on the grass verge of a neighbour’s house and approached him and asked that he move his vehicle.
During the confrontation the stalk of the victim’s indicator was broken.
