The Newcastle Knights great Steve Simpson has endorsed Fiji Bati coach Rick Stone as being up to the job of replacing the outgoing Wayne Bennett.
Currently an assistant coach at the Knights, Stone is expected to be announced as Bennett's replacement by the end of the week, with the Knights board meeting on Thursday to appoint a successor.
Stone served as assistant coach to Michael Hagan and Brian Smith when he first joined the NRL club and was promoted to head coach midway through 2009 after Smith was sacked, but stepped back down upon Bennett's arrival in 2012.
Stone also coach Fiji to a semi final finish at last year's Rugby League World Cup.