Who should replace Rick Stone as Knights coach?

In the wake of Rick Stone’s sacking as head coach of the Newcastle Knights, the question has been asked as to who will succeed the coach of 72 first grade games.

Will Danny Buderus, Garth Brennan, Nathan Brown or someone else take the role?

Danny Buderus will step up as interim coach for the Knights over the last six rounds. Buderus is a club legend and has worked closely with the current playing group both as a player and as assistant coach. The veteran of 339 games with Newcastle and Leeds, however doesn’t have nearly as much experience as other contenders for the role.

Garth Brennan is currently working with the Panthers, however he may leave for a bigger role. The Knights would be an enticing option as Brennan has worked there before. He was close to taking over Bennett at the Knights last year but dropped out to stay with the Panthers.

This time around, with the Panthers’ staff falling apart off the back of a poor season he may end up back where he started.

Nathan Brown has been linked with many NRL coaching roles recently.

Currently working under Craig Bellamy as an adviser in Sydney assessing opposition and looking for new recruits, the Dragons legend of 172 games has coached at the top level with St George-Illawarra and English giants, Huddersfield and St Helens. He has a winning percentage of 55% in 263 games coached at the top level.

Geoff Toovey is reportedly set to lose his job at the Manly Sea Eagles however just like Des Hasler one of Manly’s favourite sons could turn his back on the Maroon and White by taking a job with a rival club.

Toovey is a good coach and has the skills needed to get his players to lift in the worst of times. He could be just what Matt Gidley’s Knights need.

David Kidwell is currently serving as assistant coach to Jason Taylor at the Wests Tigers and Stephen Kearney for New Zealand.

The Kiwi veteran of 25 tests has also worked as NYC coach for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and as assistant coach to Craig Bellamy. Kidwell has been pivotal in the New Zealand Kiwis charge to become the No. 1 RLIF ranked country and has links with several of the older Knights players.

Anthony Seibold is set to leave the Melbourne Storm where he is currently serving under Craig Bellamy.

The former Raiders and Hull KR prop has been linked with the Manly Sea Eagles as an assistant coach but would jump at the opportunity of coaching a first grade side. Just like other apprentices that have worked under Bellamy, Seibold would make an immediate impact on the Knights and could fast become one of the NRL’s best coaches.

Todd Payten was the hot favourite to take over at the Wests Tigers last year but decided to move to the North Queensland Cowboys instead. The former Raiders and Tigers prop is one of the best new coaches this decade and would fit in perfectly at the Knights.

Matt Parish would be a huge help to the Knights and his connection with the large Samoan contingent at the club could prove to be a huge benefit.

Parish would have to give up his job with the New South Wales Blues if he were to take on an NRL head coaching role but will likely spark a revival at the Knights just as he has in turning Samoa into a Pacific powerhouse.

Steve Folkes has plenty of experience having coached the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 288 games between 1998 and 2008 with an impressive winning percentage of 56%. Folkes’ experience would be of great help to the Knights’ rookies, however it may be hard due to his commitments as coach of the Jillaroos.

Tony Smith will have his name thrown into the ring, currently coaching Warrington the English-based club may let him go after a lacklustre Super League campaign. The brother of former Knights coach and The Roar columnist Brian Smith, has coached 191 games since arriving at the Wolves in 2009 and is one of the hottest coaches in rugby league, meaning the Knights would have to put in a big money deal to secure his services.

Some contenders however, can be ruled out due to links with NRL clubs and representative sides.

Tim Sheens is currently contracted with the Kangaroos until the end of 2015, if the ARLC refuse to re-sign him due to poor form it appears Sheens will not take up a job with another NRL club and either retire or continue his work at Salford.

Craig Bellamy would make a great coach for the Knights, however it is highly unlikely that he will venture north from Newcastle and it will also be very hard for the Knights to come up with the money to lure the coach that has transformed the Storm brand.

It appears that Trent Barrett can also be ruled out with the former Kangaroos star set to take over at the Manly Sea Eagles with John Cartwright and Anthony Seibold as his support staff.

Kevin Walters was one name that could have coached the Knights in 2015 however, the Broncos legend decided to follow Wayne Bennett to his old club and it appears that he will stay for the long term and takeover once Bennett’s time is up.

Stephen Kearney is capable of coaching first grade but will struggle to balance his job as New Zealand head coach hence, ruling him out as a possibility.

With a new head coach, the Knights need to ensure they have the best possible coaching staff. Craig Sandercock will likely stay on as NRL Assistant with Matt Lantry and Troy Pezet to continue coaching NSW Cup and NYC respectively. Andrew Johns would be well suited to coaching the Knights’ halves of Jarrod Mullen, Trent Hodkinson and Tyrone Roberts. Danny Buderus will also assist the new Knights coach unless he lands the job himself.

Michael Hagan will not be enticed into the role of head coach and is set to continue his role as Director of Football.

Steve Georgallis and Dave Penna are set to be let go by the Sea Eagles and could prove massive contenders for the role of NRL assistant if Buderus takes the top role. Brian Battese is another option however, it seems that the former Bulldogs, Magpies and Roosters back-rower prefers to work with the youth and is busy with the Australian Schoolboys team.

Dean Pay would be hard to convince due to the growing power of the Raiders but would prove a massive coup for the Knights providing experience as an assistant coach in the NRL.

Michael Potter has had his name thrown in as a contender and would be a great help to all three grades in the Knights system as would Craig Fitzgibbon yet it seems unlikely he will move from the Roosters to an identical role in Newcastle unless the Knights can stump up the necessary cash to bring the Easts legend to the club.

Former Tonga coach, Rohan Smith may join the club as an assistant if his uncle arrives at the club or could also take back his role as NYC coach that he held in 2009. His brother Keegan Smith would also likely join from the Roosters as strength and power coach, creating strong support staff to assist in a Knights revival.

Cameron Ciraldo may return to the club as an assistant coach, the former Azzurri international played 43 games for the Knights and currently coaches the Penrith Panthers NYC team.

Mick Crawley left the Knights for the Canberra Raiders but could come back if he is offered a job alongside other strong staff. He coached the NYC side from 2012 to 2014.

Brett Kimmorley or Matt Orford would be good options for halves coaches if the Knights fail to secure the services of Johns.

If Pezet’s days are numbered as NYC coach he could be replaced by former Raiders NYC coach Andrew Dunemann, current Canberra U20s coach Michael Mantelli may also prove a huge help to the support staff.

Roosters NYC coach Adam Hartigan and assistant coach Justin Holbrook would help the club in developing their young stars such as Sione Mata’utia and Jake Mamo. Steve Murphy, James Shepherd and David Fairleigh would also bring experience to the Knights support staff and would help out with transforming the Knights’ strong player pool into success on the field.

Adrian Lam may lose his job as Papua New Guinea coach making a job as NRL assistant desirable to the 265-game Kumuls legend. Lam would bring plenty of experience and flare to the club.

Clint Newton could also help the club out as NYC Assistant however, this seems unlikely as the retiring Knights star is currently Chairman of the Rugby League Players Association.

Jim Dymock may also come to the club, his experience with the Bulldogs under Des Hasler would be a huge help to the struggling Knights. The former New Zealand international also has a strong relationship with former Bulldogs Trent Hodkinson and Jaelen Feeney.

Roarers, who do you think should coach the Newcastle Knights in 2016 and who should be his support staff?