Former NRL young gun Talatau “Junior” Amone has pleaded guilty to common assault after spitting at a woman at a Wollongong pub last year in a “disgusting” and “unacceptable” act.
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Amone, 22, was arrested at his Warrawong home in August 2024, after he spat on a woman he had been intimate with at The Illawarra Hotel on Keira St, Wollongong.
Amone appeared at the Wollongong Local Court on Monday, supported by multiple family members, where he pleaded guilty to the offence, which carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.
CCTV footage from 2am on the morning of the offence was played from inside the pokies room of the popular Wollongong pub.
In the CCTV footage, Amone is seen sitting at a poker machine which he played for several minutes before the victim approached him and a “mutual argument” began.
Defence barrister Angela Cook said the offence was an “impulsive reaction” to the victim’s “insulting words” during their argument, Sergeant Gray rejected this assertion arguing the act was “very deliberate”.
“There is no disputing that there was an argument … but the act itself is very deliberate, it is an act of degradation,” Ms Gray said.
“It is a very serious act and is completely unacceptable in the eyes of the community.”
She also reminded the court Amone was serving an ICO at the time of the offence for serious misconduct.
In Ms Cook’s submissions the court was told Amone had not only been drinking all night at the time of the attack but had also been struggling with underlying mental health conditions including mixed anxiety, adjustment disorder and depressive symptoms which he has since sought treatment for.
“It doesn’t excuse his actions … but it does put it into context for the court to consider,” he said.
The court was told Amone and the victim had been involved in a “short lived” intimate relationship prior to the attack.
Magistrate Michael Love said he was considering a community corrections order, and requested a sentencing submission report.
“I have received a letter of apology … in which he says he hasn’t drunk since that night, so certainly that will make up a condition of that order,” Mr Love said.
“Because that’s what happens when you’re out at 2am in the morning drinking and someone says something to you that you don’t like … you do something disgusting.”
An apprehended violence order was also made on Monday, protecting the victim for a period of two years.
Amone will return to court on Tuesday, February 25 for sentencing.
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.
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