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 also had an outstanding strike-rate in the NSW Cup.

Armstrong made a try-scoring Leopards debut in the Challenge Cup tie at Workington Town but sadly his season was cut short by a serious knee injury. After a long recovery period he is raring to continue the fine form, which he displayed in the first half of 2025 when he became a firm favourite with the Leopards’ faithful.