The Leigh Leopards are in the midst of a major rebuild of their playing squad for the 2025 season. A number of high-profile names are set to depart the club at the end of the season, creating space on the club’s salary cap to complete an overhaul of their squad.
Key figures such as John Asiata, Tom Amone and Kai O’Donnell have already confirmed moves for 2025, with Amone moving to Hull FC and Amone and O’Donnell returning to the NRL, to join the Canterbury Bulldogs and the North Queensland Cowboys respectively.
This frees up a signinficant amount of space on the salary cap for Leigh and, crucially, quota spots to bring in new signings from overseas. The departure of forward, Ben Nakubuwai, on loan to Featherstone Rovers, allowed the Leopards to bring in Aaron Pene for the remainder of the 2024 season, with Pene impressing on debut against the Leeds Rhinos.
Now, the Leopards have completed a major transfer coup for the 2025 season, by announcing the capture of Newcastle Knights full-back, David Armstrong.
Leigh Leopards have confirmed the signing of David Armstrong from the Newcastle Knights, he will join the Leopards for the 2025 season. Armstrong looked set to remain at Newcastle for the 2025 season, having reportedly agreed a new deal. However, he reversed that decision, opting to remain at Leigh.
Newcastle had reportedly considered blocking Armstrong’s move to Leigh, however, they released a statement earlier today which confirmed Armstrong would be allowed to leave. Now, Leigh have confirmed the capture of Armstrong. A Leigh club statement confirming the deal states:
Speaking in the club statement confirming the deal, Leigh coach, Adrian Lam, spoke of his excitement at unleashing Armstrong on Super League defences. He believes the flying full-back will add another dimension to Leigh’s attack.
Head coach Adrian Lam said: “I can’t wait to unleash David Armstrong on the Super League next season.
“He’s going to really add a lot of X Factor to our team.
“He is someone we have been tracking for a while so it’s great to finally have that over the line.”
Leigh Leopards owner, Derek Beaumont, is also delighted to add Armstrong to the Leigh squad. He believed it is a real statement of intent from the club and highlights the club’s growing reputation as an attractive place to play. Beaumont said:
This is an incredible addition to our team and shows how far we have come in a short period of time to be seen as a reliable Super League team that a promising young player views as the ideal spot to play for the next three years.
In my opinion, this is a fantastic addition for the Super League as a whole and demonstrates that the league—rather than simply our club—offers a favorable atmosphere for player development and enjoyment of the game of rugby.
“Super League clubs have long been linked to selecting players who the NRL believes have served their time and are being replaced by younger, up-and-coming talent.
“Therefore, as a competition, we should be proud to have signed a young player of Armstrong’s caliber, even though his club wanted to and thought they had an offer from another NRL club.” I hope other clubs can adopt this as well.
“Yeah, we might lose players to the NRL, and it’s possible that players of Armstrong’s caliber would eventually return there, but bringing in talent early on is a major positive step.
“I am excited to see him in “The Roaring” next season, but in the interim, I am looking forward to witnessing the amazing work that this wonderful group of people that we have already demonstrated in Perpignan just
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