Newcastle have signed Nathan Brown to an open-ended contract which might lead to him becoming the club's longest-serving NRL coach.
The Wests Mayfield board on Thursday ticked off on the deal which can be seen as the ultimate expression of faith in Brown.
The Knights said the contract did not have an expiry date but had performance-based criteria built in which the side had to meet for Brown to continue.
"Nathan is a top-ranking coach from both a development and high-performance prospective," Knights CEO Philip Gardner said.
"We have seen clear improvement this season and have high but realistic expectations for season 2019 and beyond.
"Nathan's vision has never waived and he has shown the patience and resilience needed to develop a successful program at the Knights.
"This new contract gives him every opportunity to put his plan into action to deliver the wins on and off the field that all Knights fans crave."
After finishing last in his first two seasons, the Knights have shown significant improvement in 2018 following a roster overhaul spearheaded by Brown and recruitment manager Darren Mooney.
The Knights are 11th with seven wins through 14 games but have been crippled by a heavy injury toll which has seen them lose co-captains Mitchell Pearce and Jamie Buhrer for long periods.
In his third season, the deal could result in Brown overtaking Michael Hagan, who coached the side from 2001-06, as their longest-serving mentor.
"I am very appreciative of the support and confidence that the club has shown in me," Brown said.
"There's been a lot of changes over my three years but we now have a squad that will be the base for our future success."
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