The Sydney Roosters are eyeing off young Knights fullback David Armstrong as a potential long-term successor to James Tedesco.

With their skipper contracted until the end of next year and potentially entering the final phase of his career, they are casting their net for a replacement and Amstrong has excelled for Newcastle since being given his chance this season following Kalyn Ponga’s foot injury.

Armstrong is off contract at the end of this season and according to a NewsCorp report, the Moree 23-year-old is in demand after an impressive first four games at NRL level.

With Ponga signed long term at the Knights, he will need to look elsewhere to nail down a starting spot at fullback.

Souths are reportedly keen to add Euan Aitken to their squad next season when Wayne Bennett returns to the club.

Bennett recently said he would not be poaching any of the Dolphins’ players they want to keep for his Redfern return but Aitken could be squeezed out given the club has invested in Jake Averillo and Herbie Farnworth at centre while Cowboys young gun Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is joining the club to play alongside the likes of Tom Gilbert and Felise Kaufusi in the back row.

Robson ready to hate mates

NSW hooker Reece Robson says his tight bond with his North Queensland teammates will turn to an immediate hatred the moment he sees them in a Maroons jersey.

No player typifies the State of Origin mantra of ‘mate against mate, state against state’ more than Robson this week, with five Cowboys on Queensland’s team.

A born-and-bred New South Welshman, Robson has made a home in North Queensland since establishing himself as a first-grader there in 2020.

But with clubmates Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai all lining up against the Blues, Robson said he would find it easy to flick the switch.

“They’ve got a maroon jersey on. The hate comes with it,” Robson said.

“I find it very easy. It’s a bit of a theme that we spoke about this week. And it’s probably just as important for myself as anyone else in the side.

“It’s leaving the club at the front door when you get into these camps – I find it pretty easy to set that aside.

“They’re just another fella in a maroon jersey at the end of the day. Not too much goes through my head about teammates and stuff like that.

“My teammates are the ones who are in the blue jersey beside me this week, and for the whole series.”

Robson is also ready to use some of his club knowledge to his advantage.

He knows as well as anyone what Dearden has to offer, and that the Maroons five-eighth shouldn’t be taken lightly while filling in for the injured Cameron Munster.

“He has been in really good form and he’ll be pretty vital for them next Wednesday night,” Robson said.

“No one’s going to underestimate anyone and we’re going to be working together to make sure we prevent any of their dangerous players coming to life.

“He’s got big shoes to fill there with Munster being out, and he plays a fair bit different to Munster too.

“There is a little bit of a different dynamic to their side.

“But we’ll do a video on that and prepare as best we can to prevent a lot of his strike weapons in the game.”

with AAP