Newcastle's Michael Hagan will replace Brisbane's Wayne Bennett as Queensland State of Origin coach.

Queensland Rugby League managing director Ross Livermore said Bennett had informed the board he could not accept the invitation to coach the Maroons in 2004.

Livermore said Hagan - who acted as Bennett's assistant in this year's Origin series - had accepted the invitation to coach Queensland next year.

The 39-year-old Hagan said it was a "massive honour" to be asked to take on the job.

"I felt very privileged to be asked and I can't thank the QRL enough for the invitation," Hagan told AAP.

"I also can't thank Newcastle enough for allowing me to take up this opportunity. I've been talking to the club for a couple of weeks now and they have been very supportive."

He said Queensland's 36-6 win in game three this year was a tremendous launching pad for the 2004 campaign.

"There's a lot of good young players coming through for Queensland and there's plenty to look forward to over the next couple of years," he said.

"It was important for Queensland, and for Origin football in general, that Queensland was able to bounce back like that."

Hagan played five games for Queensland in 1989-1990 and led the Knights to the NRL premiership in 2001 in his first year as a senior coach.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP