Newcastle Knights have announced current assistant Rick Stone will be promoted to the head coaching role at the end of the season.
NRL club Newcastle Knights have announced Rick Stone as the successor to departing coach Wayne Bennett.
The Knights announced on Monday morning that Stone has been appointed as head coach for the next two seasons.
Stone has been an assistant under Wayne Bennett since 2012 and had previously held the head coaching role at the club from 2009, where he was in charge for 54 matches.
Stone stepped up to the head coaching role in 2009 after Brian Smith resigned before making way for Bennett.
“Rick has a thorough knowledge of our Club and the community, which are qualities we felt important in the head coach position,” Knights CEO Matt Gidley said.
“We look forward to Rick continuing to focus his energies on our current NRL team, and also our NSW Cup team as they move towards the finals later in the year.”
Stone said he was looking forward to getting the chance to take over the reigns for the second time.
“It’s great to get another chance to coach the Knights because it’s not often you get a second opportunity to coach at the same club,” Stone said.
“We have some exciting times ahead with some great young juniors coming through this year and some more talent not too far away from playing NRL.”
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