From Mungindi to Suncorp: The ‘lightning quick’ Knights rookie set to fill Ponga’s big shoes

There’s a new No.1 getting around Newcastle and his name is David Armstrong.

A polite, softly-spoken 23-year-old, whose rugby league journey started in Mungindi, a small town on the border of New South Wales and Queensland.

Armstrong will make his NRL debut on Sunday when the Knights travel to Brisbane to face the Dolphins. He’s been parachuted into the No.1 jersey to replace superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga, who is expected to miss three months due to a Lisfranc injury.

The debut has come a little earlier than expected for Armstrong, who told foxsports.com.au before Round 1 that his top goal for 2024 was to “just have another consistent year in Cup and then hopefully something comes out of it.”

And something has come out of Armstrong’s solid start to the season — an opportunity to announce himself to the NRL.

Armstrong has a total of 23 tries in 28 NSW Cup appearances and has been averaging five tackle busts and 136 running metres per game this season.

He’s tall, but a slight build — only 80 kilos — however what he lacks in size he makes up for in speed and energy. He’s always around the action, can bounce out of tackles with ease and he effortlessly glides across the field when in open space.

 

Veteran forward Jacob Saifiti summed Armstrong up this week as “lightning quick” and a “ball of energy”, while Dylan Lucas said he’s “very electric on the field” and “competes hard.”

Armstrong’s quest to play in the NRL has taken him from his home town of Mungindi, to Goondiwindi, to Toowoomba, to Redcfliffe, back to Goondiwindi and finally to Newcastle.

When asked to describe Mungindi — which has an approximate population of 700 — Armstrong told foxsports.com.au: “It’s tiny. There’s no KFC or Maccas, none of that there. There’s one little grocery store, one pub, a little bakery… and that’d have to nearly be it.”

Armstrong and his parents moved to Goondiwindi when he was 12-years old “purely because there’s more opportunity there.”

Not only was there better education in Goondiwindi, but it was must if Armstrong wanted to continue playing rugby league.

“(At the time) footy stopped at under 12s where I’m from so I moved away just to keep playing footy – and for better schooling as well,” he explained.

“I stayed in Goondiwindi for about four years and then I went away to boarding school in Toowoomba. I spent three years at Toowoomba Grammar and then straight out of school I went to Redcliffe for a year to play for the Dolphins (under 18s).”

That’s when the Knights spotted Armstrong and brought him down to play in their Jersey Flegg side — until Covid-19 cancelled the lower grades.

He decided to pack up and head back to Queensland to play local A-grade for the Goondiwindi Boars, who he scored 38 tries for — including four in their grand final win over Highfields Eagles.

“Goondiwindi is a fair bit bigger… but it’s still just a small country town as well. You’ve got your Maccas there… but still no KFC,” Armstrong laughed.

The Knights came knocking again ahead of the 2022 season and Armstrong has been a Newcastle local ever since — and very much enjoys the 17 KFC outlets in the area.

Armstrong was on a train-and-trial last season before being upgraded to the Top 30 for this year.