Two of Queensland's favourite footballing sons - Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri - returned to their rugby league home to deny the Reds a massive Super 14 upset over NSW.

The Suncorp Stadium grudge match exploded with two scuffles inside the first two minutes, saw the Reds grab a 12-6 second-half lead and ended with Sailor kicking the ball dead to secure a 16-12 win.

The winger, baited throughout by the crowd, then followed up by giving several of the 38,947 patrons a verbal spray.

A 68th-minute counter-attacking try to powerful back-rower Rocky Elsom prevented an opening round boilover as the cramping Reds dropped like flies late in the bruising encounter.

NSW's fightback broke an 11-year Brisbane hoodoo for the Waratahs and followed up on last year's breakthrough 27-8 win in Sydney.

The rank underdogs in maroon showed immense courage and passion to have the star-laden Waratahs rattled midway through the second half.

Skipper John Roe and reactivated halfback Sam Cordingley were everywhere men for the Reds while teenage flyhalf Berrick Barnes enjoyed one of the best Queensland debuts in recent times.

When Barnes, Roe and Cordingley all left the field with cramps midway through the second half Queensland held a gutsy six-point lead.

NSW seemed to be self-destructing when Peter Hewat missed a close-range penalty with 15 minutes left.

But Hewat made up for the mistake when he fired a cut-out pass to Elsom who barrelled his way 30m for the only try of the match.

Hewat kicked the conversion to put the visitors in the lead.

The winger-fullback could have followed it up with a penalty moments later but missed again. He got it right with two minutes left.

Tuqiri was a handful throughout and Sailor earnt the ire of the crowd throughout, and brought deafening mock cheers when he let a Barnes kick bounce in front of him and dodge him into touch.

After threatening to personally test out Elton Flatley's recovery from concussion dramas, Sailor followed through with his first touch of the ball but the centre held firm.

Outside centre Julian Huxley disproved thoughts he was a defensive weak link in the midfield but also suffered cramps to be replaced early as the Reds had to improvise with an unorthodox backline including David Croft in the centres.

Barnes stood out in his baptism of fire, making two line breaks in the opening half and giving sharp service out wide.

The bigger, more experienced Waratah pack often bullied the Reds in tight but the young Queenslanders scrapped hard.

Reds lineout general Mark Connors shrugged off a groin strain to play but his nous at the set-piece didn't rub off as the home side lost three of its own throws in the first 18 minutes.

Hooker Sean Hardman paid the price and was hooked after half an hour in favour off Stephen Moore.

Helped by a lop-sided early penalty count, NSW went ahead in 11th minute when Peter Hewat slotted a 45m penalty goal.

Flatley returned fire in the 27th minute by kicking his own from the same range just after skipper John Roe and halfback Sam Cordingley amazingly stopped a NSW try.

Tuqiri and Morgan Turinui chipped ahead effectively for each other but Roe brilliantly took the outside centre in a ball-and-all tackle 10m from the line before Cordingley rapt up the ruck to force a penalty.

Cordingley also teamed with aggressive lock Hugh McMeniman to deny Tuqiri another certain try in the left-hand corner.

Wallabies lock Dan Vickerman lasted only 45 minutes in his return from a shoulder injury while Waratahs No.8 David Lyons also looked rusty following a long lay-off.

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