I have a sense that the Armstrong deal was very close until a few dominoes fell in a different direction. (Ben injured, Ponga injured).
I get what you are saying about players and one injury away from a first team spot Leythig, but that is where some of the best rough diamonds at a reasonable cap related price are to be found overseas. Lockie is the perfect example.
An interesting few weeks ahead ?!

Armstrong’s contract with Newcastle is up this season, so he has some big decisions to make. He plays well the next few weeks in first grade and may earn an extension or interest from other nrl teams, or decides to go to super league. I think he will only go to super league if he doesn’t impress in the first team and doesn’t get offered any deal. Then that begs the question as to wether we still want him.

Nine minutes into his debut, second touch of the ball and scores a try. Played of Jackson Hastings who put him through a huge gap on the inside from about ten mitres out. Good pace off the mark.

He likely has 3-4 months of play ahead if he goes well. Ponga out for that long.
By then I think he will be a hot property in the NRL.
Sometimes you win, sometime you lose, but we are now a club in the game, with a coach and reputation that will attract the right overseas players.

Yeh I agree VL, unless he has already signed for us for next year, which I very much doubt, he could get picked up by another nrl club. The only issue he has at the Knights is Ponga, he will only play if he is not fit or is picked for origin. Interestingly the RV pundits never mentioned any interest being shown from us at all when they were talking about him.