For just the second time since 1997 and the Super League war, the Maroons have picked a team without a Brisbane player.

The only other time Queensland have taken to the field without at least one Bronco in their lineup in the past 23 years was game three last year - and that was because winger Xavier Coates was injured.

Coates was the sole Bronco in Queensland's game one lineup as the Maroons were thrashed 50-6 by NSW but was overlooked for Sunday's must-win fixture.

While there's not one Bronco in the team, there are plenty of former players from Red Hill in Paul Green's team.

Teenager Reece Walsh was released by the Broncos in April to join the Warriors and will now make the first appearance of his career at Suncorp Stadium in a Maroon jersey.

Fellow debutant Francis Molo also played at Brisbane before joining North Queensland while Andrew McCullough, Ben Hunt, Dane Gagai, David Fifita and Jai Arrow were also at the club before moving on.

The fact so many of the Queensland team have Broncos ties but none are playing for the club, only strengthens the belief Brisbane is in its current state due to a history of poor recruitment calls.

McCullough, who played 260 NRL games for the Broncos but was released to St George Illawarra earlier this year, says it is tough to see his old club struggling.

"I've been through some tough periods in Brisbane. I know how much of a fishbowl, how hard it is, and especially being a young team, just sometimes you don't know how to deal with that," McCullough told AAP.

"Obviously some been tough calls have been made there at the Broncos at the moment.

"No doubt there'll be more to come.

"Certainly feel for the lads because they're a good bunch of kids and they just want to win football games."

Australian Associated Press