Shaun Johnson has barely seen his baby daughter in eight months,and the Warriors hope an emotional return home will lead to an improvement on the paddock.
Cronulla's player stocks need a boost after two players were charged by the match review committee.
Cronulla were granted a special exemption by the NRL to replace Shaun Johnson despite Matt Moylan waiting in the wings.
Matt Moylan found time for a laugh with his old coach and teammates before kick-off. But the joke was on the Sharks,who tumbled to a second heavy defeat to Penrith.
The star playmaker says he will go in to bat for John Morris amid reports linking rival coaches with his job at Cronulla.
Shaun Johnson was not getting carried away with his performance in a losing Sharks side last weekend,but the signs are good for the Shire's $3m man.
After an underwhelming first season with the Sharks last year,Shaun Johnson said he is feeling"stronger than ever"and is ready to"take over"from the Dragons at Jubilee Stadium.
Kurt Capewell concedes Jayden Brailey's decision to leave for Newcastle is weighing heavily on his mind.
Wests Tigers veteran Benji Marshall will return to the New Zealand Test side to partner Shaun Johnson against Tonga this weekend.
Matt Prior will have one final NSW audition when the Sharks travel down to the nation's capital to take on Canberra.
While Shaun Johnson has had to adapt to a different culture at his new NRL home,the playmaker has at least had a familiar face alongside him in the halves.