The Newcastle Knights has finalised its coaching structure for the next two years following the appointment of Rick Stone’s NRL assistants Craig Sandercock and Danny Buderus, as well as NSW Cup’s coach Matt Lantry and NYC’s Troy Pezet.
Sandercock returns to Newcastle as Stone’s assistant after spending three years as head coach of Hull KR in the English Super League. Sandercock is a well-respected coach who had tremendous success in player development during his previous tenure at the Club.
Buderus, who retired at the end of the 2013 season after playing 257 games for the club, will assist Stone specifically in the ruck area of the game. He will primarily focus on educating several young hookers on the current roster who are showing great potential.
With Stone’s move to head coach, Lantry replaces him at the helm of NSW Cup. Lantry has been an integral part of the coach and player education program throughout the Knights’ catchment region since joining the Club. He was also recently named the Newcastle Rugby League’s 2014 Coach of the Year, in his first season with Central Newcastle.
Finally, Pezet replaces the departing Michael Crawley to coach the Under 20s. Pezet steps up after spending the last three years as the High Performance coach with the Knights’ junior program. A former Parramatta player, Pezet has an extensive coaching career with junior teams.
With the NSW Cup side as well as the Under 20s both playing in the finals; it remains business as usual until they each conclude their 2014 campaigns.
SUMMARY:
NRL Coach: Rick Stone
NRL Assistant: Craig Sandercock
NRL Assistant: Danny Buderus
NSW Cup Coach: Matt Lantry
NYC Coach: Troy Pezet
