Fuming coach Phil Mooney felt a series of controversial Highlanders tries denied Queensland a drought-breaking Super 14 away win in Invercargill on Saturday night.

Mooney was left with a mixture of bitterness and pride as the Reds showed major improvement but still sank to another frustrating loss on the road, falling 24-19 in New Zealand's deep south.

The competition battlers justifiably counted themselves unlucky not to end a 20-match winless streak away from Brisbane after both sides scored three tries apiece.

There were major question marks over all three of the Highlanders' five-pointers, especially their first to lock Josh Bekhuis and second to winger Kenny Lynn - both of which saw the lead change hands.

There was large doubt whether Bekhuis grounded the ball in a pick and drive while Mooney also took issue with Adam Thomson obstructing the Reds defence.

Lynn finished a brilliant 60m try but it came after flanker Daniel Braid was taken out of play by opposite number Adam Soakai, allowing a hole for Daniel Bowden to slice through.

"I don't like to whinge about referees and they've got a difficult job but we heard on the ref's ears that the first try came from an obstruction and with the second Braidy was taken out of the back of the lineout," he said.

"That's two tries and that just kills you. We're a little bit frustrated but what can you do?

"And I wasn't convinced that with the last try (to No.8 George Nauopu) that the ball got over the line. I reckon it was short."

Like Bekhuis's 19th-minute effort, the television match official awarded a try to Nauopu despite doubts the ball was over the line.

For all their lack of fortune, the result once again showed Queensland, while brave, need to handle adversity better to lift themselves from the Super 14 cellar.

The Reds, who led 12-10 at halftime, still fought to the bitter end after finding themselves down 24-12 with 10 minutes left.

Go-to man Digby Ioane ensured a tense finish when playmakers Berrick Barnes and Quade Cooper superbly combined to send him over in the 72nd minute after a frantic two-minutes of constant attack.

The visitors had one last chance with a penalty in time-on but league convert Mark McLinden astonishingly kicked ahead instead of keeping the ball in hand.

Queensland's pack, led by try-scoring second-rower Hugh McMeniman, stood up against the abrasive Highlanders forwards in a huge improvement on dispiriting losses to the Chiefs and Western Force in the last fortnight.

The returns of Wallabies Peter Hynes and Greg Holmes also had a major affect, while hooker Sean Hardman bravely played out the 80 minutes with a knee problem.

Hynes ensured the visitors - looking for their first-ever away win against the Highlanders - started on the right foot by leaping high to snare the kick-off.

Twenty-six seconds later, Cooper scored from a sweeping backline move featuring great running and passing by Barnes and McLinden.

The Highlanders managed to control possession and territory better but the Reds looked more threatening with the ball. Pushed passes and a lack of composure near the try-line once again let them down.

"The effort was fantastic, maybe the accuracy wasn't quite there but I'm certainly very proud," Mooney said.

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