The Newcastle Knights have agreed to a partnership with the Country Rugby League that will see the club re-enter the New South Wales Cup from 2010.

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To be known as the Central Coast Crusaders, the partnership will see the Knights make a large scale commitment to the Central Coast region, an area long regarded as part of the Knights Community.

“An opportunity presented itself for us to become more involved with the Central Coast and we’re honoured to be extending our home base into one of the game’s heartlands,” said CEO, Steve Burraston.

“This is also an opportunity to assist the Central Coast community with Rugby League development at the game’s grass roots level.”

Speaking about the announcement, Knights Head Coach, Rick Stone said the decision will allow more flexibility to prepare players for NRL standard football and further enhance the existing Knights / Newcastle Rugby League Player Placement Program.

“To have another option and level of competition to prepare our players will be a major advantage from a coaching perspective,” he said.

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“The step from local Rugby League to NRL football is a major leap and this will allow us an opportunity to match our players to their levels of ability to a standard just below the NRL.”

Newcastle Rugby League Chairman, Trevor Crow supported the Knights decision and says he’ll continue to work with Head Coach, Rick Stone to build on the success of the 2009 Player Placement Program.

“After speaking with Rick I understand the flexibility needed to have those playing together under the Knights coaching regime,” said Crow.

“The Player Placement and Club Ambassador Programs will continue to be adopted in 2010 and we will now turn our attention to finalising plans for 2010.”

The Knights will now meet with the Country Rugby League and the Newcastle Rugby League to finalise details, including coaching staff selection with an announcement expected within days.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the Newcastle Knights to deliver what we’ve spoken about for almost 23 years,” said Mr Burraston.

“A large percentage of our membership base is from the Coast and we now have an avenue to deliver this important Rugby League region a team they can call their own.”