Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer says he and Sam Thaiday need to lift the intensity and communication that's been missing in the Broncos' two recent heavy NRL losses.

Brisbane clash with Cronulla this weekend and Lockyer implored his side to play with better attitude and more fire than they displayed in losses to Penrith and Manly.

With the exception of halves Peter Wallace and Lockyer, Josh Hoffman at 23 is the oldest player in Brisbane's backline which explains why the Broncos need more on-field leadership.

"The last few weeks we haven't had as much experience on the field as we had the first seven rounds," noted Lockyer, who felt fresh after being rested following his State of Origin game last week.

"I guess part of my role and Sammy's role is to see that talk and that intensity, that we lacked in the second half against Manly, is part of our game on Friday night."

Lockyer warned against expecting too much from the club's reigning player of the year Hoffman, who returns at fullback.

"It's good to have Hoffy back, he's had a long lay-off," said Lockyer, the day after Hoffman revealed his injury was actually a broken leg, not a corked shin.

"I don't think we should be putting too much pressure on him to perform to his best this weekend."

Hoffman's return to the No.1 jumper should help the team's "talk" with Gerard Beale, who will shift to the centres, and winger Dale Copley, both quiet by nature.

Lockyer conceded Brisbane hadn't played as well as expected in recent weeks and were off the pace defensively.

"People say defence is attitude and while our attitude has been OK it hasn't been great," he said.

"We're a half a metre off at the moment and there's been a big focus this week, that we find that half a metre and get back to being strong defensively."

Brisbane started the season with an amazing second-half record of conceding one try in seven games.

But in the past two weeks they've leaked 67 points without their representative players and centre Justin Hodges (hamstring).

"We're confident if we bring the right attitude and intensity (on Friday) we'll be competitive," Lockyer said.

Brisbane prop Nick Kenny will miss the clash with a shoulder injury.

Broncos coach Anthony Griffin will start Ben Hannant and Scott Anderson up front and has three props on his four-man bench.

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