Sydney Swans head coach Cox was unveiled to the media on Tuesday afternoon as the man to lead the Western Australia team for 2026 as competitive State of Origin makes a long-awaited comeback after a hiatus of more than 25 years.
Despite the possibility of a pre-season exhibition match interrupting his own work with the Swans in February next year, Cox said he "couldn't knock back" the opportunity to coach the state team.
"It's a huge honour," Cox explained.
"I grew up watching State of Origin footy and I wished one day I got the chance to play for WA.
"That didn't eventuate with the last State of Origin game being 1999 so I was really excited when Andrew (Dillon) called."
"The first thing I thought about was the passion I had for WA. From there it was what about the football club that I'm currently coaching (Sydney Swans) and getting us as prepared as possible.
"The timing (February 14) is really favourable for the footy club and they are fully supportive of me doing this."
Having been through a pre-season and early season period that was ravaged by injuries to key Swans players such as Errol Gulden, Cox is all too aware of the impact an injury-ravaged February can have on a club.
The Swans were missing Gulden, Callum Mills, Harry Cunningham and Logan McDonald amongst others at the start of the season and would lose eight of their first 12 games before going on an 8-3 run from the start of June to finish tenth.
Cox said he would be more than comfortable as an AFL head coach to release his best eligible players, such as Logan McDonald, Chad Warner and Tom Papley, to play Origin football just three weeks before Opening Round.
"I'm happy with the concept and the timing of it," Cox explained.
"That (timing) will always be up in the air but I think it's great to have the concept back. I think the players will get right behind it."
"Representative footy is one thing you don't get often. I think it'll be individual discussions between them and the clubs they play for to come up with a decision on their availability.
"I'd love to have as many of the top-tier players as I can get into this team.
"Once the ball is bounced, the players will really dive in the best way they can. The NRL guys go as hard as anything. There'll be a lot to work through, but I think once they pull on the jumper, they'll go all out to perform."
The 44-year-old also acknowledged the challenges that will come with engaging an audience of under-35 supporters who are too young to see or remember State of Origin football from the 1990s, but expressed his desire of reconnecting with WA Origin legends of the 20th century and returning the format to the "jewel in the crown" it once was.
A big crowd is expected at Optus Stadium on February 14, 2026 for the fixture, which is being delivered with financial assistance from the state government.
