Ewen McKenzie coached and played for the NSW Waratahs but the Queensland Reds Super Rugby coach and former Wallaby prop says there’s something special and unique about maroon spirit.

NSW rugby league fans have been claiming the maroon spirit a myth since losing the first State of Origin game in 1980.

They would be outraged if a former NSW player or coach made such an admission.

But McKenzie, who will be hoping Queensland smash NSW at Suncorp Stadium this weekend in their final-round Super Rugby clash, can get away with such comments because he was born in Victoria.

“There’s certainly something up here you notice is different,” McKenzie told a charity lunch in Brisbane on Tuesday attended by six of the state’s major sporting teams, including the Broncos (NRL) and Lions (AFL).

“Having coached elsewhere, you can just see it. It’s in the DNA of the players who come together whenever they play NSW.”

McKenzie said he was proud that after winning the Super Rugby title last year, he lost only one player with the squad electing to stick together for its defence this year.

“These guys are here for the long haul,” he said.

“The likes of the (Will) Genias and (Quade) Coopers, they’ve signed on until 2015.

“The last two minutes last weekend, they (Reds) played for each other.

“It’s unique. People assume it happens in team sport but it doesn’t always happen.

“It’s been happening with all the Queensland teams up here and it’s great.”