Brisbane assistant Paul Green reckons the return of their Origin contingent may be the key to turning the club's waning NRL season around.

The Broncos have conceded more than 40 points for three straight games for the first time in their 21-year history.

In all, the Broncos have leaked a staggering 138 points in their last three games after a youthful Brisbane outfit were thrashed 46-12 at Cronulla on Monday night.

Skipper Darren Lockyer has been painted as a potential defensive weak link ahead of the second State of Origin game in Sydney after missing 33 tackles in his last five games.

But Lockyer believed he could rectify his problems by working with the "one of the best teachers of defence in the game", Titans defensive guru Trevor Gillmeister.

Green believed turning their fortunes around against Parramatta on Sunday may come down to a change in attitude - and that could be done with the return of Origin players Lockyer, Karmichael Hunt, Peter Wallace Sam Thaiday and Israel Folau.

"When you are not playing well as a side, confidence is always an issue," he said.

"When you get your good players in your side back, having those guys there gives the guys around them confidence.

"Those (Origin players) are professional enough to come back with a good attitude and be ready to play against Parramatta."

But Green could not deny their defensive woes.

"You have to be careful when you are starting to struggle that you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater and start thinking everything is a problem," he said.

"Defensively we are definitely leaking too many points, so we have to fix that up."

The Broncos returned to Brisbane on Monday with their tails between their legs.

The Broncos handed debuts to 20-year-old halfback Ben Hunt and 17-year-old fullback Dale Copley and proved no match for a resurgent Sharks.

Adding to their woes, forward Ben Te'o was banned for two games for an ugly spear tackle on Sharks fullback Nathan Stapleton midway through the second half.

Green implored the Broncos' young guns still smarting from the shellacking to learn from their experience.

"For those who made their debut I am sure it is a game they will not quickly forget," he said.

"But they have to learn from it and realise they have to turn up to play when it comes to game time."

Broncos prop Dave Taylor - who appeared to be banished since announcing his signing with South Sydney - has been named on an extended bench.

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