Ex-NRL player Junior Amone charged with assault, granted bail after alleged spit on woman

A former NRL playmaker has been granted bail after he spent the night in custody on remand for the alleged spit on a woman in a pub.

Former NRL player Talatau “Junior” Amone spent Sunday night in custody after being charged with common assault after allegedly spitting at a woman at a Wollongong pub.

Mr Amone, 22, was arrested on Sunday and charged with one count of common assault.

He was refused bail by police and spent the night in custody on remand.

Police on Sunday afternoon began investigating reports of an alleged assault at a Keira St, Wollongong pub earlier that day.

It is alleged that about 2am, Mr Amone was involved in an argument with a woman before spitting at her.

Police said the woman was known to Mr Amone.

Mr Amone was arrested at a Warrawong home about 6.15pm on Sunday and taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged and denied bail.

Talatau “Junior” Amone has been arrested over an alleged assault. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Monique Harmer.

The former St George Illawarra playmaker appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Monday morning.

He was represented by his lawyer Elias Tabchouri in court before he was granted conditional bail by Magistrate Michael Ong.

In late 2023, Amone’s $500,000-a-year contract with the Dragons was torn up and he was deregistered indefinitely by the NRL.

Amone played 54 games for the Dragons before his contract was terminated.

He also made three appearances for Tonga.

Originally published as Ex-NRL player Junior Amone charged with assault, granted bail after alleged spit on woman