Leopards were delighted to confirm the signing of the Newcastle Knights fullback on a three-year contract from the start of the 2025 season. Talented, brave and very quick, David made his NRL debut for the Knights in 2024. He later scored a hat-trick in their 28-24 victory over Gold Coast Titans in the Magic Round at Brisbane.

Born in Moree, northern New South Wales, Armstrong moved to Queensland with his parents and finished his schooling at Toowoomba Grammar School. He scored a hat-trick in Goondiwindi Boars’ 2021 grand final win over Highfields in the 2021 Toowoomba Rugby League and fully linked up with the Knights in 2022, playing in their Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup teams.

In 2024 he joined the Knights’ 30-man NRL squad and made his first team debut in Round 8, coming in for injured captain Kalyn Ponga and scoring his side’s opening try in their 18-14 win against Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.

He was also on the scoresheet in the victory over Wests Tigers before really coming into focus with that outstanding hat-trick as Knights came back from 24-10 down to win 28-24 against the Titans. Armstrong has the outstanding strike-rate of 23 tries in 28 games in the NSW Cup over the past three seasons.

Armstrong made a try-scoring Leopards debut in the Challenge Cup tie at Workington Town.