The Reds have kept their Super Rugby finals chances alive, holding on for a 32-26 win against a Sunwolves team down to 12 men at stages in one of the most penalised games in Super Rugby history.
Referee Angus Gardner handed out six cards in the clash, with the Sunwolves down to just 12 men late in the second half, while Reds forward Harry Hockings was sent off for a boot to the head of visiting no.8 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco.
The visitors were cynically offside for most of the match in a bid to stifle the Reds in a tactic that almost worked against a Reds side determined to make life hard for themselves in front of just 8600 diehard fans at Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland did their best to throw the match away, cruelling their chances with simple handling errors, intercepted passes and set-piece fails that kept the visitors in the match despite their numerical disadvantage.
In a match that will be remembered for the number of times Gardner reached into his pocket as much as any passage of play, the match became almost farcical from the 75th minute as a 12-man Sunwolves outfit took on 14 Reds.
Hockings was handed a red card after lashing out with his leg to attempt to free himself from the grasp of Sunwolves forward Warren-Vosayaco, hitting the no.8 in the head as he did so.
He was sent off for his action, with Warren-Vosayaco also sent to the bin for his part. With reserve Yu Tamura having been yellow carded in the 70th minute and Semisi Masirewa earning a red after his second yellow of the match earlier in the second half, the Sunwolves were left in crisis.
Prop Masataka Mikami was also handed a yellow card in the 24th minute, leaving the Sunwolves with five yellows overall, understood to be the first time a side has received as many in a Super Rugby clash.
The Reds scratched their way to victory though in an effort flyhalf Bryce Hegarty said was a sign of their growth.
"The reds of the past probably would have lost that game, so hopefully we're back in the habit of winning those games," he said.
"It was very different, I haven't played too many of those games and I don't think I ever will."
Reds coach Brad Thorn was almost speechless after the match.
"People keep telling me it's four points. So yeah, it’s four points. I felt like the Sunwolves had come here to win, so I want to respect that.
"I felt like they were pushing that offside line a lot and there were a lot of infringements, it wasn't what I'd call attractive rugby for fans or people trying to watch, so it was sort of a frustrating game.
"I was just disappointed with … I didn't feel like we handled that well.
"We made hard work of it."
Thorn said there were some "interesting" moments.
"What did it end up, 12 v 14? How often do you see that?
"It shows how many infringements but it doesn't make for great rugby.
"Traditionally we don’t come well off our break and tonight was probably no different.
"But you take those points and win ugly, it's better than losing ugly.
"There were some good things going on but it was a tough game of rugby to go through."
The shambolic Reds trailed 13-8 at halftime and needed a second-half fightback to seal a win that kept their finals hopes alive.
Despite the visitors having two men sent to the sin bin in the opening half, the Reds failed to take their opportunities, with simple errors cruelling their chances.
They will have the numerical advantage for the opening minutes of the second term and need another spirited comeback against the Japanese side, as well a big improvement in their set pieces if they are to notched a crucial win.
The Reds had impressed the need for a strong start but were down almost immediately after conceding two penalties inside the opening 10 minutes which the Sunwolves converted for a 6-0 lead.
They hit back with a penalty of their own just minutes later and hit the lead inside 15 minutes when Scott Higginbotham intercepted the ball and found Bryce Hegarty on his outside, who raced away to score.
It should have kickstarted the Reds' run but simple errors cruelled their momentum and the Sunwolves took full advantage.
With fullback Hamish Stewart defending in the line, Sunwolves flyhalf Hayden Park put a precise grubber through the line, with winger Gerhard van den Heever gleefully pouncing on the ball for a try.
The Reds looked in perfect position to respond after Sunwolves prop Masataka Mikami was handed a yellow card in the 24th mintue but the Reds were unable to make the most of their opportunities with the man off the field.
The Sunwolves were down again almost as soon as their man returned, with Semisi Masirewa sent to the bin for a professional foul in the 36th minute.
But the Reds were again unable to make the most of the advantage and trailed at the break.
RESULT
Reds 32
Tries: Bryce Hegarty, Taniela Tupou, Sefa Naivalu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa
Cons: Hegarty 3
Pens: Hegarty 2
Sunwolves 26
Tries: Gerhard van den Heever 2
Cons: Hayden Parker 2
Pens: Parker 4
