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Who's in the running to be the Newcastle Knights coach

26th July, 2014
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Is there a case for a full-time Australia coach? (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Roar Guru
26th July, 2014
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Following Wayne Bennett’s decision to return to the Brisbane Broncos, the Newcastle Knights find themselves without a coach for next season and lacking direction.

Below are those thought to be in the running for the top job at Newcastle next year.

Rick Stone
Many consider Stone the obvious choice after being pushed out of the job by Bennett a few years ago.

After taking over the role from ousted coach Brian Smith in 2009, Stone led the Knights to a brief finals appearance where the Melbourne Storm (eventual and disgraced premiers) eliminated them.

Stone has successfully juggled two coaching roles since the arrival of Bennett at the Knights, as the head coach of the Knights NSW Cup side and as coach of the Fiji Bati, who made it to the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup last year.

Comments made by various players at the club indicate Stone has the backing of the players and therefore finds himself in the box seat to be the coach of the Knights in 2015.

Garth Brennan
Who? While most will not know his name nor his face, the former lower grade Newcastle player and recent premiership-winning Penrith under-20s coach is one of the firm favourites to replace Bennett.

Coincidentally, it was the arrival of Wayne Bennett in 2011 that led to Brennan being told his services were no longer needed at the Knights, despite some strong performances in charge of the under-20s side.

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Brennan is now coaching the top-of-the-table Panthers NSW Cup side, which leads many to believe he will be the next coach at the Knights.

Verdict: A fall-back option if Stone was to not get the top role.

Brett Kimmorley
The six-game Newcastle Knights player’s name has emerged as a contender for the top job in recent days, having stated he intends to keep coaching after finishing his two-year deal as assistant at the Canberra Raiders.

A player who boasted a refined game, Kimmorley is yet to experience coaching at the top level and with a squad that will need some gap filling and has struggled with incidents on and off the field in the last year, it is hard to see Matthew Gidley and the NRL deciding that Kimmorley is the best option.

Verdict: Could be the assistant at Newcastle in 2015.

Mick Potter
After a tumultuous first year at the Tigers, Potter and his side have found their feet this year, in what looks like a log-jam in the middle of the NRL table.

A recent run of poor performances, which coincided with losing star players Robbie Farah, Aaron Woods (both to State of Origin), and Braith Anasta (bicep injury) sees Potter’s contract extension in serious doubt, with players pushing for assistant and club great Todd Payton to be given the top job.

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With a raft of young talent including Mitchell Moses, Blake Austin and Luke Brooks making up three-quarters of the side’s spine, it would come of great shock to me if the Tigers were to not offer Potter an extension. But will the uncertainty about his job next year force Potter to look for other coaching opportunities?

Verdict: Who knows?

Other names being thrown about for the vacant Knights job include Tim Sheens, Anthony Griffin and Steve Price.

Who of the above do you think is most likely to get the nod for the Knights next season?

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