Brisbane Broncos pair Sam Thaiday and Matt Gillett say they are looking forward to taking on their club coach Wayne Bennett in the upcoming Four Nations in the United Kingdom.
Bennett – who is in his second stint at the Broncos – will be in charge of the English national side when the tournament gets underway on October 29 (AEDT).
The master coach previously helped the Kiwis take down the Kangaroos at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and will be out for more success in what shapes as his first series in charge of England.
Thaiday told NRL.com that it would be "weird" to come up against the man who handed him his NRL debut, but conceded it wouldn't be anything new.
"I've played against him at NRL level when he ventured to the Dragons and Newcastle, but this will be a little bit different because it's at international level," he said.
"I think England's a great team that has been building over the last few years.
"They've got a fantastic domestic comp over there and hopefully Wayne can bring a few things to the international side to help them out because it's only going to make the game of rugby league better if we have some fantastic coaches in charge of some fantastic teams."
Touted as one of the game's best pranksters, Thaiday refused to rule out the possibility of him trying to stitch up his club coach when the Kangaroos touch down in the UK.
"We'll have to see what happens when we get over there. I'm sure I can get a few teasers happening and stir the pot a bit as I like to do best," Thaiday said.
"He's taken a few of the Broncos staff with him. He might know a few things about me, but this isn't a Broncos dominated team.
"There's a great mix of guys from across the NRL who are all playing fantastic footy at the moment. I'm sure he'll be sitting down and doing his homework for the next few weeks because he's got a big job over there and he'll want to be successful."
Gillett, who has played 46 matches under the master coach, said Bennett's inside knowledge of Australian players would be an advantage for England in the Four Nations.
"He'll have a bit of an edge on some of the guys in the Australian side because he's coached a few guys in this team before," Gillett told NRL.com.
"He'll have an idea on how Australia works and operates because he's been around the game for such a long time. He's going to want to win and I'm sure he won't be taking this tournament lightly.
"You know he's going to do a good job for them over there. He's been so great for us as a club and helped turn it around for us really quickly when he came back. I think England will get a lot out of what he brings to them."
