Axed Dragons star Talatau Junior Amone: Mental health bid dismissed for alleged domestic assault at Wollongong hotel

Former St George Illawarra young gun Talatau Junior Amone claims he was suffering from “anxiety, irritability and feelings of worthlessness” when he allegedly spat on a woman at a popular Wollongong pub. Here’s the latest.

Axed St George Illawarra young gun Talatau Junior Amone claims he was suffering from poor sleep and anxiety when he allegedly spat on a woman at a popular Wollongong pub.

Amone, 22, fronted Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday accompanied by his parents, partner and manager in an attempt to have an assault charge thrown out of court on mental health grounds.

The bid comes after Amone allegedly spat on a woman he had been intimate with at The Illawarra Hotel in the heart of Wollongong in the early hours of Sunday, August 5.

The court heard the complainant, Tamara Duncombe, knew Amone for about a year with the pair having been intimate, however Amone previously denied any “domestic relationship” between the two and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Police allege Amone began abusing Ms Duncombe, calling her a “variety of offensive words” before lunging at her and spitting in her face in the pokies room of the hotel.

Junior Amone attends Wollongong Local Court with his lawyer Elias Tabchouri. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

In court on Wednesday, Amone’s lawyer Elias Tabchouri submitted his client was suffering from a “mental impairment” at the time of the alleged offending, sparked by the termination of his $500,000 Dragons contract and deregistrationafter he was found guilty of a violent hammer attack in 2023.

Mr Tabchouri cited Amone’s rise and fall through the rugby league ranks and the “intense” scrutiny he had suffered in the public eye ever since.

“This is a young man whose whole life has been dedicated to his craft,” Mr Tabchouri said.

“He achieved significant success at a very young age … and then he was deregistered …(rugby league) was all he wanted to do and he is left in a position where he is not allowed to do it.

“Having that taken away … has caused a significant mental health impact and financial impact [which he has had] to live through in the public limelight.”

Mr Tabchouri further submitted Amone was provoked by Ms Duncombe and “things were said in a derogatory fashion towards him … addressing what he had been going through and how bad his life had become”.

Tamara Duncombe has accused Amone of spitting on her at The Illawarra Hotel. Picture: Instagram

However, police prosecutor Nathan Smith said Amone’s mental health condition was not serious enough to warrant the charge being thrown out of court, after he played CCTV of the alleged spitting incident to the court.

“This is not a person who suffers a profound impairment,” Mr Smith said.

“This is a person who is diagnosed suffering poor sleep … anxiety, irritability, feelings of worthlessness, none of those symptoms explain the behaviour.

“He made a deliberate choice to spit in the face of someone who he had a relationship with.”

Magistrate Michael Douglass found Amone was suffering a mental condition, but heeded the prosecution’s submissions to not “downplay” the alleged offence.

“In fairness to the applicant there is a causal link to the mental condition and alleged offences,” Mr Douglass said.

“(But) spitting is a heinous and serious offence, it is demeaning, belittling.”

Amone will return to court next year for a hearing date. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

Mr Douglass refused the mental health application. He found Amone was at risk of reoffending given he allegedly committed the offence while on a 16-month intensive correction order for the hammer attack.

He also took issue with evidence Amone was receiving mental health treatment at the time which had failed to prevent the alleged further offending.

Amone will remain on bail on the condition he live at his Warrawong address, not contact Ms Duncombe or any prosecution witnesses, and comply with an apprehended violence order.

He will return to Wollongong Local Court on February 17 for a hearing.