The simple act of being able to say goodnight to his daughter every night has inspired a rejuvenated Shaun Johnson to career-best form for the NZ Warriors.
After a whirlwind 2022 NRL season, with much of it spent in Australia and away from family due to COVID-19, Johnson is basking in being back home in New Zealand.
His sensational performances on the field has inspired the Warriors to an unlikely sixth spot on the ladder after 15 rounds.
They already boast two more wins than their total last season, with Johnson are the forefront of their eight victories so far.
Despite rival clubs circling for his services, the 32-year-old recently shut down any possibility of a move, with his contract at the Warriors expiring at the end of this season.
But while his future remains unclear, Johnson once again has Warriors fans on the edge of their seats, and credits the little things away from league for his career turnaround.
"I'm giving you this phone call from my home, I've got my daughter back here who's watching TV, and I get to say 'goodnight' to her every night," he told AM.
"They're things a lot of people take for granted, but when you go without it for a short period like we did last year…it certainly has played a massive role, and what you're seeing on the weekend from the 80 minutes from me.
"I'm happy on the field, I'm happy off the field, and what we're building at the club is pretty special to be a part of. I think happy is probably the right word."
While Johnson has stolen much of the headlines for his breathtaking performances, he praised his teammates for buying into first-year Warriors coach Andrew Webster's system.
He is just one of several players who have put the nightmares of last season to rest, with Webster hailed as the chief mastermind behind it, as the Warriors enter a much-needed bye week.
"I wouldn't say he's allowed me to do what I want to do, I've still got parameters, and I've still got boundaries, but he's created a gameplan for us as a side that I fit into, and I really suit," he told AM.
"A lot of the talk has been around my performances and that, but if you look across the board, we've all taken our game to another level, everyone that takes the field each weekend.
"I can't do what I've been doing without my teammates doing what they're doing. Everyone is just playing their role within the system that Webby has created and certainly having fun with it.
"You can view a break in play a couple of different ways, but when you're at the age I'm at, you take it. Every rest is good rest, so I'll just use it to freshen up."
