Cronulla have warned Nicho Hynes' return won't fix their biggest problem, with the Sharks conceding drastically more points compared to last year's regular season.

Hynes will play his first NRL match since winning last year's Dally M Medal on Sunday against St George Illawarra, running out for a Sharks side that has lost two of their opening three.

The 26-year-old's inclusion will no doubt lift Cronulla, becoming one of the game's most dynamic players after claiming the No.7 jersey at the club last season.

But it is in defence the Sharks are most concerned.

Cronulla's defence was their best in 23 years during last year's regular season, letting in an average of 15 points per game and finishing second on the ladder.

In the time since they let in scores of 32 and 38 in last year's finals, before having 27, 26 and 24 put on them by South Sydney, Parramatta and Canberra this year.

"It's probably just some system stuff that has let us down and lapses in concentration," Sharks captain Dale Finucane said.

"We just need to tighten the middle.

"There really isn't one particular player who can solve those issues.

"It really is about whole team cohesion. Everyone needs to do their role in a team individually."

Finucane has no doubt, however, that Hynes can hit the ground running after a calf injury delayed the start of his year.

The pair played together at Melbourne where Hynes regularly came in and out of the side, but always starred at fullback or as a bench player with limited minutes.

"Whenever Nicho has come into a side he hasn't skipped a beat, he has always been ready to play whatever role it is," Finucane said.

"He has been champing at the bit since pre-season finished.

"He has been pushing our staff wanting to play. Now he has a fair bit of workload in our legs, ready to go."

Finucane also warned that the Dragons could become a dangerous prospect, fuelled on by the revelation off-contract coach Anthony Griffin would have to reapply for his job.

"You never know what is going to happen when there is news like that," Finucane said.

"It can fire a team up or have the opposite affect. It's not our worry, we can only control what we can control.

"It's pretty early days to be deciding what their coach is going to do.

"They're two games into the season, won their first game and were right in the game (against Brisbane) before it blew out."