Rugby league legend Laurie Daley won't rule out a future step up to the Blues' State of Origin job after scoring his first head coaching position with NSW Country.

The former Australia, NSW and Country captain, who was part of Canberra's triple premiership-winning era, was announced as the Country Origin mentor for the clash with City next May in Wollongong.

Asked whether the Country job was a one-off, Daley told AAP: "Oh no. I think definitely no NRL coaching but as far as representative football, you never know where it may lead to.

"But first thing's first. I just want to make sure that the Country side is very passionate about playing for Country and be as well prepared as they possibly can."

Daley, 38, was involved with the Blues as an assistant coach for five years between 2002-06.

He has also worked as coaching consultant for the Raiders and St George Illawarra.

An NRL position was made impossible, however, by Daley recently leaving his commentary job at Fox Sports for a five-year deal with the Nine Network.

A statement from the CRL said Nine had supported Daley in the Country appointment.

"It's not something that I've thought long and hard about, getting into the coaching side of things on a day-to-day level," he said.

"But this certainly whets my appetite as far as that desire that you have to sort of pass on your knowledge to players, it gives you a great opportunity to do that.

"This is just a step into coaching Country in the 100th year of the game, a great opportunity to be involved in the representative side of things.

"I'm very excited about going to work for Channel Nine next year but Country were looking for a coach and when it was offered it was a great opportunity to do it."

The Country and City jobs are considered two of the toughest in rugby league, with players thrown together at short notice for a fixture which has had its value questioned in a hectic season.

"You know that before you get into it so there's no dramas there," Daley said.

He said his players' passion for the jersey could be stirred by reminding them what was at stake.

"It's a combination of realising that you've got an important role to play representing people from the country," he said.

"You also know that there's positions for State of Origin and Australia up for grabs.

"And it's also about your own personal performance, every time you go out there and play, to show people you can handle the step up in class.

"I used to love it ... and just the fact that it was always a bit of a stepping stone to maybe going somewhere else and playing Origin."

Or, perhaps, coaching it.

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