League Express can exclusively reveal that Armstrong will make the move to the UK for the 2025 season, months after being initially linked with a move to Super League.
The money offered to the 23-year-old is considerably more than what the Knights had been prepared to pay for a new contract, despite the two parties entering conversations last month.
The Leopards had been hunting Armstrong at the beginning of the 2024 Super League season after injuries to Gareth O’Brien and Zak Hardaker.
However, a move for the 23-year-old was not forthcoming with Leigh unable to move a quota player on as Armstrong made it into the Newcastle first-team following the injury to superstar Kalyn Ponga.
With the departure of Ben Nakubuwai, however, the Leopards currently have an overseas spot spare, though Melbourne Storm prop Aaron Pene iss widely expected to fill the gap for this season.
would love to see Billy Slater coach the Broncos.
Brisbane are the biggest club in the land, have the most resources and their current roster is stacked with Origin players.
Queensland coach Slater has picked five Broncos players in his squads this series, while Payne Haas is arguably the Blues’ best player.
I understand it’s unlikely to happen, but with Brisbane underachieving at the moment it’s a question the club may need to ask considering Slater’s already-established connection with their best players.
later’s rapport with Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Pat Carrigan is clear to see, while he’s also close with Selwyn Cobbo and has big raps on Brendan Piakura.
The Broncos need to maximise having all that talent around premiership-winning halfback Adam Reynolds while they still can – which is probably only until the end of next year.
Because let’s be honest, if the Broncos miss the top eight this season then Kevvie Walters will be under huge pressure to keep his job.
Kevvie is one of the most likeable blokes in the business but Brisbane are simply too big a club to tolerate playing finals just once in five years.
It might sound harsh to say Walters’ job is on the line less than nine months after guiding the club to the grand final, but look at Parramatta.
Brad Arthur took the Eels to the 2022 grand final but they missed the finals in 2023 and just 11 rounds into this season he was gone.