Rick Stone new Huddersfield coach

Huddersfield have appointed Australian Rick Stone as their new head coach.

Stone, 49, former head coach of Newcastle in the NRL, succeeds former Great Britain international Paul Anderson, who was sacked last month.

Stone, who coached Fiji at the 2013 World Cup in the UK, was sacked by the Knights last July and has been working on the backroom staff of Sydney Roosters.

He has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Giants and is planning to fly into the UK in time for Sunday’s home game against St Helens.

Stone will be assisted by former Huddersfield players Chris Thorman and Luke Robinson, who also worked with caretaker coach Andy Kelly until he left for Australia with the England academy squad on Saturday.

His immediate task will be to keep Huddersfield in Super League after a bottom-four finish consigned them to the Qualifiers.

They have two matches left of the regular season before the split which means a seven-match play-off series to determine the make up of the top flight in 2017.

Stone, who was succeeded at Newcastle by former Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown, said: “I’m delighted to get the opportunity at Huddersfield Giants – simply delighted.

“I have had a short period out of the full-time game, probably my first for around 25 years and I’m very keen to get back into the coaching arena.

“Top jobs such as this one don’t come around very often so yes I’m ready to go and really can’t get there quick enough.

“I know the club has some very short-term goals in terms of wins needed in whatever league structure we end up in after 23 rounds but I’ve always believed that results tend to take care of themselves if you work hard, prepare well and commit to your team-mates which are key parts of my coaching style.

“I’ll give honesty and demand it back and I’m looking forward to getting into the club and working with everyone there as soon as possible.”

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