The Queensland Rugby League has confirmed that Wayne Bennett will be the head coach of the Maroons for this yearโ€™s State of Origin series.

This will be Bennettโ€™s fourth stint as head coach of Queensland, after stints in 1986-88, 1998 and 2001-03 and this year will be his eighth Origin at the helm.

Out of those previous seven Origin series, Bennett has coached the Maroons to five series wins, including a clean sweep in 1988.

The South Sydney head coach takes over from Kevin Walters, who relinquished the role to concentrate on his new role as the head coach of the Brisbane Broncos.

โ€œI love coaching Queensland and Iโ€™m extremely humbled to be invited to coach this team again, particulary in light of the challenging circumstances,โ€ Bennett told QRL.com.au.

โ€œIโ€™m very proud and pleased that Iโ€™m still able to do it. State of Origin means so much to the people of Queensland.โ€

Queensland Rugby League Managing Director Robert Moore said that Bennettโ€™s coaching experience was hard to pass up.

โ€œOur people involved in the process to appoint the new coach all viewed Wayne as the right person when we took into consideration the unique circumstances we are now faced with,โ€ he said.

โ€œWayne has the necessary experience and he knows what it takes to win big games at representative level, for both state and country.โ€

Walters said that whilst he is sad that he wonโ€™t be apart of the next campaign, heโ€™s been very proud with what he and Queensland were able to achieve.

โ€œItโ€™s been an incredible ride,โ€ he said

โ€œIโ€™ve always felt Iโ€™ve had a responsibility towards rugby league in Queensland after everything the Maroons and the game has given me.

โ€œIโ€™ll continue to assist with the teamโ€™s Origin preparations in any way that is possible.โ€