Major Twist in Leigh Leopards’ Pursuit of Newcastle Knights Star David Armstrong
The Leigh Leopards are undergoing a significant rebuilding phase, with several of their marquee players set to depart the club at the end of the 2025 Super League season. In a bid to bolster their roster, the Leopards appeared to have secured the signing of David Armstrong from the Newcastle Knights. However, a recent twist has thrown the move into doubt.
Initial reports suggested that despite an offer from the Knights, Armstrong was poised to join the Leopards, attracted by the club’s more lucrative three-year contract proposal. With key players like John Asiata, Tom Amone, and Kai O’Donnell confirmed to be leaving, as well as the potential departures of Zak Hardaker, Ricky Leutele, and Oliver Holmes, the Leopards needed to bring in fresh talent to remain competitive in 2025.
“The Leopards’ rebuild will now face an additional challenge, as they must find alternative solutions to strengthen their squad for the 2025 season, should they be unable to finalize the signing of David Armstrong.”
But according to the latest developments reported by the Daily Telegraph in Australia, the Leopards have now suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of Armstrong. While earlier reports had indicated that Leigh had won the race to sign the young fullback, it now appears the Knights are exploring ways to retain his services.
The report states that Armstrong had verbally agreed to a contract extension with the Knights, only to have a change of heart and agree to join the Leigh Leopards. However, the Knights are now weighing up whether they can hold Armstrong to his initial agreement, potentially blocking his proposed move to the Super League.
This twist represents a major blow to the Leopards’ plans, as Armstrong has been a long-term target for the club. Leigh had previously come close to securing his signature earlier in the season, but a lack of available quota spots had prevented the deal from going through. In the meantime, Armstrong has firmly established himself in the Knights’ starting lineup, impressing with five tries in his first five appearances, including a hat-trick performance during the NRL Magic Round.
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