Former St George Illawarra prodigy Junior Amone is looking to resurrect his NRL career after his manager alerted clubs that his client will complete a court-imposed intensive correction order next week.
Amone’s $500,000 contract was torn up at the end of 2023 after he was sentenced to a two-year intensive correction order and 300 hours of community service for his role in a rooftop hammer attack on a tradesman in Wollongong.
The NRL deregistered the young playmaker as a result, but his manager, Mario Tartak, is looking to help restart his client’s NRL career after sending an email – obtained by this masthead – to clubs during the week.
“I wanted to bring one of my clients to the forefront; Junior Amone, who completes his Intensive Correction Order (ICO) on 25 October 2025,” Tartak wrote in an email to clubs this week.
“This means Junior will be eligible to reapply for registration to play in the NRL. In the meantime, Junior has maintained his fitness and competitive edge by playing rugby for Kiama, where he recently helped his team win the grand final. Junior has already played 54 NRL games and represented Tonga in 3 Test matches before being stood down.
“He is an exceptionally talented half who is eager for an opportunity to get back into the game as he is also only 23 years old. If you’re interested in discussing Junior’s return or potential opportunities for the upcoming season, please let me know. I’d be happy to arrange a chat as we prepare for the pre-season in November.”
Amone was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking or intimidation, and destroying or damaging property in court in October, 2023.
The court heard he and his father, Talatau Amone, armed themselves with hammers and attacked a tradesman near their home in the Wollongong suburb of Warrawong after a dispute over a vehicle parked on a nature strip. His father was jailed for two years and six months with a non-parole period of 12 months.
Amone was handed a two-year intensive corrections order. An ICO is a court-ordered sentence that allows an offender to serve a term of imprisonment in the community under strict supervision as an alternative to prison.
Amone was regarded as one of the best young playmakers in the competition when he broke through into the NRL in 2021, partnering Ben Hunt in the halves for the Dragons.
He hasn’t played in the NRL since the final round of the 2023 regular season, but has attracted interest from prospective clubs since his manager’s email went out at the start of the week.
During his two-year exile, Amone has undertaken various rehabilitation and anger management courses while completing his community service programs. He also been working as a concreter.
The NRL has previously shown a willingness to offer players a second chance if they believe they have learned from their mistakes and undertaken actions to better themselves.
Matt Lodge was allowed back into the game following his drunken 2015 New York City home invasion and violent attack on a man. He reached a plea deal to avoid jail time by agreeing to pay the victims $1.6 million in damages.
Russell Packer also had his contract registered despite serving two years in prison after assaulting a man outside a Sydney pub in 2013.
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