Credit: SWPIX.COM
DAVID Armstrong knows time can mean nothing after growing up in a split Australian town.
The Leigh ace hails from the town of Mungindi, which straddles the border between Queensland and New South Wales.
Sign up for the Sport newsletter
Thank you!
Leigh ace David Armstrong has told of life straddling two time zones. Credit: SWPIX.COM
And while the former state does not observe daylight savings time, the latter does – meaning he could set off for a 3pm kick off on the other side of the state line at 3pm and still be early!
Little wonder full-back Armstrong was left wondering when he was a kid as he recalled: “We’re a bit confused at that time of year, but I could set off for a 3pm junior game at 3pm and still be early.
“My junior club, Mungindi Grasshoppers, was the only New South Wales team in the competition. All the other teams are in Queensland, so sometimes it did work out like that.
“Mungindi is a little country town on the border and it’s split in half. Some things work off New South Wales time, even though they’re in Queensland.
“All my family’s there. My nan and pop, all my cousins, aunties and uncles – most of the town’s made up of my family.
“And while we live on the New South Wales side of town, I support Queensland in State of Origin. Why? I don’t know!”
MOST READ IN RUGBY LEAGUE
Time confusion aside, one thing cannot be doubted. Armstrong’s return after 10 months out with a serious knee injury is huge for Leigh.
But he played for A MONTH with a ruptured cruciate ligament.
Today, though, comes another resurgent side in Hull KR, who hold the lot and booked a Wembley return last week.
However, the 25-year-old sees no reason why his side cannot challenge, adding: “I knew something was wrong, but I just didn’t know the extent of it.
“I finally got it scanned and it came back that it was a ruptured ACL. I actually felt sweet in the weeks leading up to it, I thought I could play and I was just getting through it.
“I was in disbelief when I got told on the report come back. I was pretty devastated and didn’t really know what to think, to be honest.
Armstrong revealed he played for a month with a serious knee injury Credit: SWPIX.COM
“I actually did my rehab the whole time I was back at home. I had to travel into town, it was an hour drive one way, so an hour in and out, four times a week for seven weeks. It had to be done.
“And watching was really tough. I know it sounds cliche, but you don’t really realise how much you miss something until it’s gone.
“Deep down, it hurt me that I wasn’t a part of it, but it’s definitely made me a lot stronger mentally.
“And we’re not just a number in this competition anymore, we’re putting big teams to the test now.
“We’re going into games with that bit of arrogance now and seeing if teams can come with us instead of the other way around.”
