'Winning conference is vital' - Stiles

Sydney - Newly appointed Reds coach Nick Stiles says winning the Australian conference in next year's Super Rugby competition is vital.

Stiles who has been the co-head coach with Matt O'Connor after the firing of Richard Graham believes the goal is to win the Australian conference next season.

"The most important thing for us next year is we win our conference," Stiles told news.com.au.

"If you do that it means you're playing finals football and that's what we're here to do."

Stiles believes improving the Reds' ball skills is imperative, and this belief will be buoyed by the help of former All Blacks assistant coach Mick Byrne after the Australian Rugby Union signed the former Aussie rules player as the national skills coach.

"I first spoke to Mick Byrne a couple of months ago, we had a good chat in the stands watching the Wallabies train," Stiles said.

"From that, it was really pleasing to talk to him and discover we've got very similar passions around that individual skill focus and having Mick on board and based here at Ballymore is going to be a great asset to have."