Clubs circling former Dragons star despite 1000-day exile
Updated . First published at
At least two clubs are considering throwing former Dragons and Tonga pivot Junior Amone a career lifeline - if he is cleared to return by the NRL.
The 24-year-old made a successful comeback with Wests Devils in the Illawarra league last month after being found guilty of a much-publicised assault on a tradesman in 2022, which saw him deregistered by the NRL.
Junior Amone is eyeing off an NRL return. Getty
He has since been snapped up by Wynnum in the Queensland Cup competition and is playing good football, despite more than 1000 days out of the top grade.
Amone narrowly avoided a jail term for the attack but was handed a court-enforced intensive correction order for the assault conviction.
He was again in strife in 2024 for allegedly spitting in a woman’s face, a charge he pleaded guilty to and earned an additional two-year community corrections order.
But those close to Amone say he has now put his bad boy days behind him and he has a steady partner and small child who are keeping him grounded.
Nine.com.au has been told two clubs are monitoring Amone’s form at Wynnum and may offer him a train-and-trial contract in 2027, if the NRL clears him.
The onus is on the clubs keen on Amone to attempt to have a contract registered for next season, which would be the first step before any decision is made by the NRL on whether a contract should be granted.
Amone played 54 games for the Dragons after debuting as a teenager and was one of the club’s most promising young players prior to being deregistered.
Great’s grandson set for Comm Games
The grandson of Sydney Roosters legend Bary “Bunny” Reilly will swim for Australia in the Para-Commonwealth Games that start this week.
Beau Matthews is rated a huge chance of bringing home gold in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 event, in which he will start favourite.
Matthews rates his grandfather, who died five years ago, as his inspiration.
Reilly, who won back-to-back premierships with the Roosters in 1974-75, was known throughout the game as ‘The Axe’ because of his ruthless tackling style.
As a tribute to the former star second-rower, Matthews is known as ‘Tomahawk’ among his teammates - as in ‘little axe’.
Rare history created by Titans
Gold Coast don’t set many records in the rugby league world, but they’ve achieved one last weekend that few people noticed.
In the NRLW, they thumped the Eels 50-12, months after smashing them 52-10 in the men’s competition.
Titans winger Jaime Chapman against the Eels. Getty Images
That makes them the first club in league history to score half-centuries against the same opponent in the NRL and NRLW in the one season.
Probably more one for the trivia buffs, but a record nonetheless.
Raiders chasing Kiwi teenager
More and more NRL clubs are raiding New Zealand for talent, and the Raiders are in the thick of it.
They are delighted with a 17-year-old centre they have signed from Christchurch who will join them next season - Hoani Kahukiwa.
The youngster played in the Warriors system this year in Harold Matthews Cup (under 17s) and was also making plenty of heads turn in rugby union.
But he’s decided league is where his future lies and the teenager will cross the Tasman to link up with the Raiders in 2027.
