Footy star Junior Amone’s career on life support as NRL lays down the law after he was found guilty of vicious hammer attack on a tradie

Dragons star Junior Amone is set to see his $500,000 contract ripped up after the NRL issued a breach notice following his conviction for a hammer attack.

Amone, 21, was convicted of charges of intimidation and assault occasioning bodily harm when he brandished a hammer to chase a tradesman off a roof in an incident in November last year.

On Tuesday afternoon the NRL confirmed it had issued a notice towards Amone, which is technically the first step towards deregistering his contract.

‘The National Rugby League (NRL) has today issued a Notice to St George Illawarra Dragons player Talatau Junior Amone under the NRL Playing Contract and Remuneration Rules,’ the Dragons said in a statement.

‘On 11 December, 2023 the player was sentenced in Wollongong Local Court to two years imprisonment by way of an intensive corrections order and 300 hours of community service.

Amone was convicted following an attack on a tradie last year

An NRL media release added that the governing body’s wellbeing and counselling services had been offered to the player.

Amone was arrested late last year. The court heard how he and his father, Talatau Amone, armed themselves with hammers and attacked the tradies near their home in Warrawong amid a dispute over a vehicle parked on a nature strip. 

One of the victims fell two metres and injuried his wrists, arms and hip after he was allegedly pushed off a roof. Magistrate Gabrielle Fleming labelled the episode ‘appalling’. 

His father was jailed for two years and six mo nths with a non-parole period of 12 months. Amone was ordered to pay compensation to the victims.

Considered one of the brightest prospects at the Dragons, his contract expires at the end of 2024. He was expected to form a partnership with Ben Hunt in the halves but those plans have been significantly impacted.

New Dragons coach Shane Flanagan is now tipped to give his son, Kyle, a run alongside Hunt after he joined on a two-year deal.