St George Illawarra five-eighth Talatau ‘Junior’ Amone could be available for the Dragons’ first match in Round 2 following a shock change in his legal proceedings.
Amone was charged in November 2022 over an alleged incident in which he used a hammer on a roofing contractor in Wollongong. The 20-year-old was subsequently charged with reckless grievous bodily harm, destroying property and intimidation.
The NRL chose to enact their no fault stand down policy until the matter had been resolved in court.
However, the case now being heard in a local court rather than a district court has changed the maximum amount of sentencing years if found guilty. As such, Amone no longer falls under the regulations set in the stand down policy and has asked the NRL to be reinstated to the Dragons.
“The case is now in a Wollongong local court,” The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Under the NRL’s no fault stand down policy, you have to be facing an offence of 11 years (jail time) or more.
“It’s likely now the maximum available will be only be five years.
“There are discretionary powers for the NRL to use but that usually involves offences involving women or children.
“That should be enough for the NRL to throw out the no stand down policy.”
The timing couldn’t be better for the Dragons who have backed Amone to be their long-term option at five-eighth and back up Jayden Sullivan unavailable for the first few weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.
SEN’s Greg Alexander said whilst the charges against Amone are serious, if he technically doesn’t fall under the NRL’s no fault stand down policy, the 20-year-old should be allowed to play in Round 2.
“It’s a technicality,” said Alexander on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“However, I think the NRL have to (reinstate Amone).
“If that is part of the no fault stand down policy that you are facing 11 years in jail, it changes everything.
“They have got to let him play.”
The Dragons have the bye in Round 1 before hosting the Gold Coast Titans in Round 2 at Kogarah on March 12.
