Today's press conferences suggests that this will not be happening. Cas also looking at other options as well as Nakubuwai, who is also injured.

I found Lam's comments quite odd though. Said we needed Nakubuwai and he plays every week, but also needs more minutes and may end up out on loan when players are back. While at the same time saying he's very interested in Armstrong. Something has to give if a quota spot is to be freed up.

With O'Brien out, I think we need to do what we can to get Nak off the books and get Armstrong in.

Yes, agreed that we need reinforcements in that position. Personally I am not happy with Moylan playing at full back. We need him at half back.

I also agree that Lam senior's comments were confusing and contradictory.

He clearly says that Big Ben is not going anywhere. Yet this is the very same man who repeatedly denied that the club were interested in signing his own son. Then, after Lachlan signed for us it emerged that Dad had previously been quizzing Lachlan on a weekly basis about his son's potential availability and interest in coming over to Leigh!

In relation to current potential signing machinations, I smell the scent of smoke and mirrors.

Watch this space. I think Big Ben is leaving soon - when fit - and Armstrong is coming.

I hope the end of your post is correct Jack, and I also agree with the beginning, that I too am not convinced Moylan at 1 is our best attacking potential right now. But I do trust he (Lam) knows his stuff and that Moylan is a quality 1 (but a better 6)

I'm not comfy with Zak at FB, so Moylan it is until further developments transpire.

Moylan needs to be at 1 in my opinion as we need that extra pivot.

Big Ben can go on Loan for the season in the Championship and we can still sign Armstrong ??

Either way, i am quietly optimistic as we definitely need more pace in the backs.

In theory, yes he can. But if he goes on loan, gets injured then that will have implications for someone on our salary cap but not registered to play for us I think. Given how desparate we are to free up a spot, and I assume he's on a 1 year deal, then we need to get him off the books completely. And he needs to find a club where he'll get more than 15 minutes a week and isn't actively trying to get rid.

Now being reported that Cas will be using their overseas spot on Tex Hoy. Never thought i'd ever be so irritated at another club signing a player that's been released by another poor team. We were releasing Nakubuwei and signing Armstrong a few days ago.

That would be a puzzling move by Cas. They don’t need a fullback but they haven’t signed well lately.

Be interesting to see what Newcastle do now as Kaylyn Ponga in a moon boot. Could call up David from NSW cup. Doesn’t help us trying to sign him.

I don't know the ins and outs of whether Armstrong wanted to come, or if Newcastle were open to releasing him, but I'm at a loss to understand why we have given Nakubuwai a contract for this year, when we are actively looking for an overseas full back as well?!
Surely that recruitment would've been easier if we had the spot free?

Very much like Sailor , once Armstrong is needed for cover and shows their worth, the appetite for being in SL shop window will vanish.

Either would have been a massive coup for Leigh, and as good as our current players performed last year and this, these 2 would have been a major upgrade.

The top 6 seems unrealistic at the moment which makes me wonder will Derek save the cash for next year and just play this season out.

Well will our league position dictate which league we are in season - you seem to take for granted we will be in the SL 12

Going off what Derek has stated that we won’t be far off a grade A club when we have to submit our figures then I’m in the opinion that we will be still in SL next year.
Granted that our league position will lose us points compared to last year, but our financial submission must be better this time round.

We've only played 7 games. Have some faith in us LC.

If the points are similar to what was required last year (32) to finish 5th with , we will do well if we only lose 5 games for the remainder of the season.

Not impossible but would be an absolute monumental effort.

Hopefully we are still in with a sniff when we have a full complement, as the next 3 games are all very winnable especially with the rumour Rowley off to Hull which would be a massive blow for Salford.

Glass is still half full !

Not sure if anyone has seen it buy it looks like Armstrong will start for Newcastle while Ponga is out

Yep. Named as replacement for Ponga.

So the Armstrong deal is dead then. This will continue to happen if we are targeting players that are only an injury away from the first team and not in a position to do a deal quickly. Messages from Lam in the press conferences and Beaumont in his Q&A video continue to be mixed. We want an aussie full back, but also want to keep the other 7 overseas players, while at the same time DB is also saying we've no room on the cap.

Just doesn't make sense, meanwhile, we have two players in O'Brien and Nakubuwai being told they want to be replaced while being picked every week when available.

Indeed. It's very discombobulating isn't it?

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.