A stunning comeback from the Blues broke Queensland hearts on Saturday night with reserve halfback Sam Nock delivering the killer blow in the 82nd minute.
The Queenslanders conceded the first two tries but rocketed back into contention to lead 34-20 off the back of a Tim Ryan hat-trick
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But the Blues were too good in the dying stages, scoring three tries in the final 12 minutes including an overtime match-winner to stamp their title credentials in 2024.
Here's what we learnt:
What a belter, hey? This one had it all.
From stunning tries (more on those later), to try savers and late drama, Saturday's clash was the best advertisement of Super Rugby Pacific to date.
At their peak, the Reds and Blues are entertainers who play high-tempo attacking rugby.
Queensland laid on four tries in a 20-minute blitz shortly after half time but the Blues' final flurry was simply outstanding.
Expect to see both these sides in big knockout games.
Hunter Paisami’s chip, chase, regather and shift might have given Tim Ryan his maiden Super Rugby try but the “Junkyard Dog” deserves his own segment after doing all the work for tries two and three.
Ryan was fearless on his starting Reds debut, as indicated by an audacious 26th minute chip and chase to send Josh Flook away downfield, his impressive finish for a second try in the 60th minute, and his key tackle on Cole Forbes in the 65th minute.
But nothing can top his third try - a scything, swerving run that left All Blacks winger Mark Tele'a grasping at air and the Brisbane crowd in raptures.
Ryan has been quietly building this season with strong stints off the pine against the Chiefs and Highlanders. Now he might have just made himself a permanent fixture in Les Kiss' backline.
The Reds looked for all love and money to be up 5-0 after just four minutes when Suliasi Vunivalu acrobatically regathered a box kick, beat two defenders and planted the ball down one-handed.
Cue the celebrations and an early Queensland – or so we thought.
Replays showed Vunivalu did everything BUT score with the ball bouncing out of his fingertips in the act of scoring.
He made some amends with a terrific pick and drive finish after 18 phases of attack but finishing out wide should be a wingers’ bread and butter. Ultimately, that could've been the difference.
Blues inside centre Bryce Heem incurred the wrath of referee James Doleman – and a vocal Suncorp crowd – for a high shot on John Bryant just after the half-hour mark.
It was a brain snap from the usually measured Heem, who hit Bryant late, high and off the ball. A holy trinity of yellow card offences – but certainly not a red card.
As it turned out, Heem would later produce the best try-saver in recent memory on his return, sending Tim Ryan flyin’ when a certain five-pointer loomed.
But Heem's own abrasive defence was typical of a desperate and physical Blues performance with Anton Segner (17 tackles, no miss) and Taufua Funaki (13 tackles, three turnovers) among their best.
Make no mistake, the Blues are quality but Queensland should've won this one.
The Reds fought so hard to put themselves into a winning position up 34-20 before falling away to their fifth single-digit loss.
To concede three late tries is a coach killer - especially given how congested the Super Rugby Pacific ladder is now with the Reds' loss leaving them in sixth behind Melbourne.
Now, they'll have to travel to Christchurch to face a rebounding Crusaders outfit.
