According to reports, Leigh Leopards are up against competition from Sydney Roosters for the signing of Newcastle Knights full-back David Armstrong.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Armstrong, who Leigh has been pursuing for a while, has drawn interest from suitors in Australia recently after making an impression while filling in for the injured Kalyn Ponga.
After joining the Knights in 2022, Armstrong had to wait for this chance at the first-grade level. However, he seized it, scoring five tries in his first four NRL games, including a hat-trick against the Gold Coast Titans.
Prior to this season, Newcastle only offered the 23-year-old a one-year contract on a “top 30” basis, effectively pushing him up into the senior squads’ consideration.
The Daily Telegraph also claims that the 23-year-old has received an offer from the Knights, who “remain confident that he wants to remain in Newcastle” in light of his performances since replacing Ponga.
Leigh Leopards target connected to new NRL club, according to rumours
Armstrong will face the same challenge as he did at the beginning of the season if he decides to stay in the NRL with the Knights or the Roosters: he is not the clear favourite to start at full-back.
Ponga is the first-choice #1 for Newcastle, while captain James Tedesco of the Roosters—who was the star of the show for the Kangaroos in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup final—holds that position for the Roosters.
But if he moved to the Super League with Leigh, he would almost definitely take the starting full-back position, as Adrian Lam, the head coach of the Leopards, has made no secret of his desire to start the New South Wales native in the starting lineup in 2025.
Lam stated last month: “We’ve been looking at full-back for a little while, and Davey Armstrong has definitely caught the attention of the group, Chezzy (Chris Chester, head of rugby), and myself.
We could see him blending in this setting quite nicely, and the kind of play we do here would be appropriate for him.
“We are interested in this player.”
According to The Daily Telegraph, Armstrong is expected to make a decision.
