12:00a.m. 28th October 2007

| By Mitchell Dale

The Sunshine Coast Stingrays will be guided by two former Wallabies in 2008, with former Test halfback Brett Johnstone yesterday announced as the Premier Rugby side’s assistant coach.

Head coach Glenn Panoho made the announcement at yesterday’s orientation meeting for all prospective 2008 players.

Johnstone, who took Maroochydore to a premiership in 2005, will predominantly look after the side’s backline.

Panoho, who played for Queensland and Australia alongside Johnstone, says he and the former Swans coach will compliment each other well. “I’m rapt with this. I was sweating on it for a while,” Panoho said.

“I have to be aware that I have limitations as a coach.

“Predominantly, I’m a front-rower. Brett is an expert in back play, running lines and obviously halfback play.”

Panoho also suggested a few other ex-Wallabies might pop their heads into Stingrays training from time to time next year.

“If you look across the Coast, we’ve got John Connolly, Barry Honan, Jake Howard, Michael O’Conner and Peter Slattery. There’s five guys straight off the bat,” he said.

“In some capacity, I would love for them to be involved.

“One of the things we did (yesterday) was ask the players to fill in their weaknesses, strengths and areas they would like to improve.

“If there is an area that I feel the coaching staff can’t help a player improve on, obviously you have to go and look for outside help to help them become better players.

“Not only that, there are people in Brisbane who Johno and I still have associations with at the Reds and Wallabies who are willing to give up their time.”

Yesterday was the first meeting for all those interested in playing for the Stingrays, with over 40 indicating their interest. Among them were leading players from this year’s Hyatt Regency Cup competition.