What Monday’s sentencing of Junior Amone means for NRL and Dragons

St George Illawarra’s Junior Amone will be sentenced on Monday having been found guilty of a hammer attack – and there are huge implications for both the NRL and Dragons.

Talatau Amone faces sentencing on Monday. Picture: NRL Photos

Rising St George Illawarra star Junior Amone will be sentenced on Monday having been found guilty of a hammer attack in October.

The NRL integrity unit will monitor the court verdict before determining whether to take disciplinary action against 21-year-old Amone. There could also be an appeal.

Evidence and the Magistrate’s comments will also be reviewed but it is likely Amone would, depending on the severity of the verdict, attract punishment from the NRL.

While supporting Amone, St George Illawarra is attempting to move forward from the drama and are expected to name Ben Hunt and Kyle Flanagan in their halves for next year’s round one match against Gold Coast.

Former NSW utility Jack Bird is another halves option.

In October, the court was told that magistrate Gabriel Fleming would be contemplating a prison term for Amone, who is contracted to the Dragons until the end of next year.

Any rugby league post-case developments around Amone – part of Tonga’s 2022 World Cup squad – would come through joint consultation between the NRL and St George Illawarra.

The Dragons and NRL were not commenting when contacted on Thursday.

St George Illawarra is fully focused on its preparations for 2024, regardless of Amone’s court outcome.

Two players who could have played in the halves at Saints, Jayden Sullivan and Moses Mbye, have left the club for 2024.

Talatau Amone faces sentencing on Monday. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The plan was to transition Kyle into a number nine over the next couple of years but he’ll have to stay in the halves for a little bit, which I’ve got no problems with,” coach Shane Flanagan told the media earlier this month.

“I’ve always thought Kyle’s style with Benny Hunt will work perfectly because Benny is a runner, so he’ll get a shot there.”

When initially charged, Amone was subjected to the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy, which suspends players while facing charges that carry a maximum jail term of 11 years or more.

He was then cleared for a return to St George Illawarra after his case was shifted from a district court to local court and his maximum sentence was cut to five years.

The Dragons still have another three vacant spots in their 2024 roster.

Amone, along with his father, Talatau, was found guilty in Wollongong Local Court after arming himself with a hammer and chasing a tradesman off a roof in a violent incident in Wollongong last year.

He was immediately stood down by the Dragons, who said at the time: “As a result of this outcome, (Junior) 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.”

One of the tradesmen was allegedly pushed off the roof, falling around two metres and sustaining serious wrist, arms and hip injuries.

Originally published as What Monday’s sentencing of Junior Amone means for NRL and Dragons