Not much has made Australian rugby league coach Wayne Bennett happy these days.

There have been claims of double standards for cutting injured Nathan Hindmarsh from the Tri-Nations tour but keeping a recovering Willie Mason.

And then there has been complaints from Wests Tigers fans for picking just one player from the premiership side for his 23-strong tour squad.

But two words changed all that - Andrew Johns.

The mere mention of the star halfback's name quickly brought a smile to the master coach's face.

Bennett said Johns would return from his short term, lucrative English stint with Warrington on Sunday when the Australian team goes into camp - and by the look of it he can't wait.

"I'm just waiting to see what he brings to camp," a beaming Bennett said.

"I coached him before in `98 when he was a younger guy. I look forward to coaching him (again), he's a wonderful player.

"He's a great character of the game."

But Bennett's fondness for Johns wouldn't extend to handing him the vice-captaincy behind skipper Darren Lockyer.

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