Queensland's red-hot pre-season form has failed to convince bookmakers that the Reds are genuine contenders for this year's Super 12 title.

Several betting agencies are listing the Reds as $31 outsiders despite impressive trial wins against competition favourites ACT Brumbies and NSW Waratahs.

A near full-strength Queensland maintained a psychological edge over the Waratahs on Saturday night with a comprehensive 38-0 victory at Ballymore.

That result came just a week after the Reds knocked off defending champion ACT 43-5 in a game that signalled the return of former Wallabies winger Ben Tune.

Centrebet manager Gerard Daffy said on Monday Queensland's erratic form during the past two seasons was keeping punters well clear.

"We just brought them in from 34 to 31 (dollars) to see if there was any kind of reaction and there hasn't been so I suspect that punters think (the big win over NSW) might have been an aberration," Daffy said.

"We've become pretty used to seeing some really weird trial results over the past couple of years and you've got to say that (Queensland's) form during the season proper has been pretty ordinary to say the least."

Since making the final four in 2001, the Reds have struggled to live up to their own lofty expectations.

They narrowly missed the semi-finals the following year before finishing eighth in 2003 and a disappointing 10th last season.

Queensland again faces a gruelling test during the opening stages of the season with three of the first four games across the Tasman.

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