Newcastle assistant coach Rick Stone set to coach the Knights' NSW Cup team

RICK Stone is about to become the highest paid reserve grade coach in rugby league.

Rick Stone

RICK Stone is about to become the highest paid reserve grade coach in rugby league.

Just 12 months after guiding Newcastle into the play-offs, a feat his replacement Wayne Bennett was unable to achieve this season, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Stone will officially be rolled out as the Knights' NSW Cup coach in 2013.

He will replace current coach Rip Taylor, who will lose his job despite having the Knights sitting in the top four leading into today's final round clash. Stone will retain his NRL assistant coaching role under Bennett.

"Stoney will be working across both teams," Knights CEO Matt Gidley confirmed last night.

"The idea is he will still be heavily involved with the NRL squad as Wayne's assistant and he will look after the NSW Cup squad as well.

"With Mick Crawley (former Cowboys assistant) in charge of the under-20s and Graham Murray heavily involved with our juniors, it now means we have four NRL coaches looking after all of our players.

"Stoney is obviously a great coach and Wayne recognises the advantages in having him looking after the players pushing for positions in the top grade."

Gidley denied the decision was a financial one and believes it doesn't diminish the job Taylor has done.