The 22-year-old has been named to start at lock in Saturday's All Stars match at CommBank Stadium.
His brother Niwhai - the pair are among triplets with sister Tinihuia - has been picked at halfback.
For Hohepa the All Stars game is a golden chance to prove to Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon that he's up to regular first grade action.
Despite being named the NSW Cup lock of the year in 2024, the No.13 was restricted to just two NRL games for the Raiders across two seasons.
"Things just didn't go to plan in Canberra. I was playing some of the best footy I have played but I couldn't find a way into the NRL," Puru told AAP.
"It's nothing against the club or (coach) Ricky (Stuart), there were just boys ahead of me.
"The plain reality was that the boys in front of me were playing good footy. It wasn't that I was playing bad footy."
Hohepa could shape as one of the shrewdest buys of the off-season if he can translate his strong showings from reserve grade into the NRL with Cronulla.
Reuniting with Niwhai was a no-brainer for the lock, even if he says they never wanted to be seen as a "package deal".
The pair impressed in Cronulla's trial with the Warriors last week, with Hohepa displaying his versatility by spending time at dummy-half.
Saturday's All Stars match will be the first competitive game the pair have played together in three years, the fixture having extra significance given they also qualify for the Maoris.
"I was lucky enough to get a call to play for the Maori but by then I'd already committed to the Indigenous team," Hohepa said.
"I told (Maori coach) Adam Blair I would hold my word but I was honoured to get a message from him.
"I said to not write me off for next year, I'd love the chance to represent both sides."
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