A 79th minute try to Kieran Hardy has denied the Reds a famous victory over Wales, who hold on for a 36-35 win at Suncorp Stadium.
It's Wales' first win of 2024 as they were forced to work by a Reds side that never gave up
Tickets to Reds v Wales on Friday July 19 available here.
Warren Gatland's men built a 31-14 lead just after the break but a hat-trick to Richie Asiata via the rolling maul gave them hope.
A strong crowd in Brisbane inspired them back into the contest and Mac Grealy's double suddenly gave them a lead with ten minutes to go.
In the end, Hardy spied space after minutes of attack on the Reds line to give the visitors a hard-fought victory.
Wales were hungry for their first win of the tour and it was one of the best from the Tests in Archie Griffin who barged over for the opener.
The Queensland Reds were missing over a dozen of their players to either international duties or injuries but it didn’t stop them from testing Wales as their set-piece stood up.
Warren Gatland’s team had success with their rolling maul against the Wallabies and the Reds were intent on giving them a taste of their own medicine when Richie Asiata barged over to put them in front.
Gatland handed rugby league convert Regan Grace his union debut and it paid off as the flyer combined with Rio Dyer for a well worked try.
Two minutes later, Dyer had his own try after a wondering cross-field kick from Sam Costelow to give Wales a 19-7 lead.
James O’Connor thought he’d answered back when he took the line on, only for the TMO to rule a knock on.
The Reds’ pressure was relenting and a yellow card to Welsh hooker Evan Lloyd provided the space for Asiata to barge over for a second.
Wales would capitalise on a Mac Grealy mistake before the half to take a ten point lead into the break via their maul and backrower Christ Tshiunza.
Centre Nick Tompkins pushed the scoreline out to a 31-14 lead before the Reds once again mounted a comeback with new Rebels trio Lachlan Anderson, Matt Gibbon and Josh Canham onto the field.
Canham’s first involvement saw the lock help Asiata over from the rolling maul and when Tim Ryan put Grealy over, the margin was reduced to three heading into the final 20 minutes.
Wales hunted for a response but a stunning counter-attack sent Suncorp into overdrive.
It started with Anderson breaking the line from his own five metre line, before Seru Uru sliced straight through the ruck. Some nice hands and poise from Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen put Grealy into space as they hit the front.
Wales threw everything and whilst Gibbon's turnover held them out for now, Davies' dart after over 20 phases of attack put them back in front with seconds left.
The Reds had one last chance after winning the kick-off back, only for the Welsh to secure the turnover and the win.
Tries: Griffin, Grace, Dyer, Tshiunza, Tompkins, Hardy
Cons: Costelow 3/5
Tries: Asiata 3, Grealy 2
Cons: O'Connor 5/5
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell (captain), 14 Floyd Aubrey, 13 Tim Ryan, 12 Dre Pakeho, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Joe Brial, 7 John Bryant, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Connor Vest, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase.
Replacements: 16 George Blake, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Josh Canham, 20 Connor Anderson, 21 Will Cartwright, 22 Mason Gordon, 23 Lachie Anderson.
Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Eddie James, 11 Regan Grace, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies (captain), 8 Mackenzie Martin, 7 Taine Plumtree, 6 Christ Tshiunza, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Dewi Lake, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Ben Thomas, 23 Mason Grady.
