HE might be agonising over the toughest decision of his life, but David Armstrong hasn't allowed it to affect his football. Login or signup to continue reading Armstrong was one of several fringe Newcastle NRL players to make the most of the first-grade team's bye week by starring in a 36-0 hammering of the Sydney Roosters in NSW Cup on Saturday. Named on the wing but playing in his preferred fullback role, Armstrong created the first try, for centre Krystian Mapalalangi, with a deft grubber kick and scored one himself soon afterwards by slicing through from close range.
It followed his two-try haul a week earlier in Newcastle's 42-22 win against Penrith in NSW Cup, which was the perfect response to being dropped from the NRL squad, after a brief but spectacular stint that delivered five tries in five games, including a hat-trick against Gold Coast. Armstrong has since become the central figure in a bizarre tug-of-war between the Knights and English club Leigh Leopards. His agent informed Newcastle officials two weeks ago that Armstrong had agreed to accept a two-year contract extension, only for the 23-year-old to change his mind days later and indicate he wanted to instead link with Leigh on a three-season deal.
The Knights still hope to retain Armstrong and have given him time to think it over. But in the meantime, it doesn't appear to have been a distraction on game day. His three tries in two games since being dropped from the NRL side give him eight in seven NSW Cup app.
