Queensland recovered from an eight-point deficit to squeeze out a dramatic 26-24 trial win over Super 14 arch rivals NSW in Lismore.

The Waratahs scored three tries to two in front of a crowd of 3,628 spectators.

The Reds, who were playing their first game under former NSW coach Ewen McKenzie, trailed 24-16 when former ex-Queensland squad member Brendan McKibbin converted a 72nd-minute try to fellow replacement Dylan Sigg.

Queensland got within a point when Tim Walsh converted a 76th-minute try to halfback and Wallaby squad tourist Richard Kingi.

Walsh nudged the Reds past NSW with a penalty inside the final two minutes.

Both coaches opted not to use the vast majority of their current Wallaby representatives.

The Reds opened the scoring when prop Jack Kennedy rounded off some sustained forward pressure.

Five-eighth Ben Lucas converted but Queensland found themselves down to 14 men, when hooker Saia Faingaa was sin-binned for fighting following a melee.

The Waratahs capitalised on the penalty awarded for that infringement, with halfback Josh Holmes marking his return from the Brumbies by scoring a try.

Acting captain and five-eighth Daniel Halangahu converted to leave the sides locked at 7-7 at half time.

Lucas and McKibbin exchanged penalties and Walsh kicked another one as Queensland eked a 13-10 lead in the third quarter.

However, McKibbin scored a try and converted to give the Waratahs a 17-13 advantage heading into the last quarter.

Walsh narrowed the deficit to one with a 70th minute penalty.

"It's a good result for us from a confidence point of view, I know people say it's a trial and whatever, but you've got to start somewhere," McKenzie said.

"I was pleased with the defence, I was pleased with the flow of the game in terms of the ball use and the quality of the handling, which I thought was pretty good.

"We didn't make many mistakes."

NSW coach Chris Hickey was particularly pleased with the performance of Halangahu and young junior Waratahs winger Alex Rokobaro.

The Reds continue their trial campaign against New Zealand's Crusaders at Ballymore next Friday while the Waratahs face the Fijian Warriors in Orange the following night.

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