Queensland threatened to pull off a huge Super 14 upset before suffering another second-half meltdown as the Crusaders ran away with a 47-21 win.

The gutsy Reds were on line for an astonishing Suncorp Stadium victory when skipper Chris Latham crossed for a crowd-stirring converted try and 21-16 lead in the 58th minute.

But the defending champions, inspired by classy flyhalf Dan Carter, stormed home in the Brisbane heat with four tries in the last 13 minutes as the home side finished the game with 13 men.

It was a virtual carbon copy of last week's gut-wrenching fade-out to NSW when the Reds led until the 68th minute before injuries and exhaustion took their toll.

It was the 67th minute when the Crusaders broke the game open when Carter combined with Rico Gear to put Casey Laulala over.

Three minutes later Carter, who was unusually off line with the boot in the first half, landing seven from 12 altogether, crossed for his second try to kill off Queensland.

The scoreline did no justice to the effort of the Reds, again led brilliantly by halfback Sam Cordingley, who controlled the match for the first hour but lacked the composure to finish off a handful of line breaks.

Putting salt into their wounds, they were denied a bonus point when a 75th-minute Elton Flatley try was dubiously called back for a shoulder charge by winger Hernari Veratau.

From the ensuing play Carter kicked cross field for Gear to score.

It wasn't the only shoulder charge decision the Reds took issue with as No.8 Mitchell Chapman was sin-binned for such a knock in the 70th minute.

The 23,551-strong Brisbane crowd couldn't believe their eyes early as the Reds not only shot to an 8-0 lead but "perfect 10" Carter missed two penalties and the Crusaders had a major case of the fumbles.

Flyhalf Berrick Barnes' sleight of hand stood up Richie McCaw for winger Drew Mitchell to scythe through, step off his left and beat the cover for pace.

But the off-colour Crusaders fired back in the 18th minute to deliver a perfect sweeping backline movement which saw fullback Leon MacDonald beat Latham to score in the right corner.

Flatley put the home side back out to a 14-8 lead with two penalty goals in three minutes but Carter cut the margin to three just before the break.

Cordingley, Hugh McMeniman and Mitchell all got into the clear but Queensland lacked the support and composure to finish off.

The Reds pounded the visitors line for the first 10 minutes of the second half and Flatley, Cordingley and Julian Huxley all looked set to score before falling short.

The Crusaders hit the lead for the first time in the 56th minute when Carter palmed off Flatley to score after MacDonald smartly used referee Mark Lawrence as a decoy to break the line.

The Reds delivered a swift reply with Huxley putting Latham over.

The Crusaders fightback ensured sweet 100-game celebrations for veterans Reuben Thorne and Caleb Ralph.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP