Quade Cooper emerged from the doghouse to advance his Test five-eighth claims with a virtuoso performance in Queensland's 30-28 Super 14 loss to the Sharks in Durban.

Cooper's individual brilliance and a brace of tries to league convert Will Chambers in just his second Super start couldn't prevent Queensland suffering their first defeat in four games.

The Reds did, however, move up one place to fifth after picking up two bonus points and outscoring the Sharks four tries to three.

Queensland were looking good when they surged to a 21-9 lead within four minutes of the second half starting.

However, the Sharks piled up 21 unanswered points through converted tries to wingers Odwa Ndungane and JP Pietersen and flanker Jacques Botes.

They took control of the game in the second half through their forwards with a series of ground-gaining driving mauls which the Reds couldn't counter.

It was a contrast of styles, as the Reds sought to stretch the home team through some bold backline play featuring halves Cooper and Will Genia, centres Chambers and Anthony Faingaa and winger Digby Ioane.

Queensland set up a thrilling finish when Cooper converted a try to replacement prop Greg Holmes with 10 minutes to go.

Impressive Ioane almost secured a dramatic victory when he made a long distance break in the dying seconds, only for the Reds to lose possession after he went to ground.

Incumbent Test inside centre Cooper, who was the villain last week after being sin-binned for a trip against the Cheetahs, redeemed himself with a scintillating performance.

He opened up the Sharks defence in the 11th minute beating two defenders on his way to the line.

The sweet-stepping pivot, who looms as a major challenger to current Wallabies five-eighth Matt Giteau, set up the Reds' other three tries with some glorious running and passing.

He combined well with Chambers, who showed good tackle-busting strength in crossing twice in six minutes either side of halftime in just his second Super start.

"I think he (Cooper) was terrific tonight, his endeavour and creativity was terrific," McKenzie told AAP.

The normally measured McKenzie wasn't about to reveal whether he read the riot act to Cooper after his brain snap last week, though he did discuss the game with his gifted pivot.

"We talked about various things about football," was McKenzie's succinct reply.

McKenzie said his team didn't do enough to counter the physicality of the home team and felt the Sharks got away with more at the breakdown, where they were awarded several second-half penalties, which starved the Reds of possession.

The exciting though ultimately unsuccessful effort was further vindication of McKenzie's game plan as they continue to combine dogged defence and creative attack.

"If we can get to how we want to play it's a game style that works," McKenzie said.

"We scored four tries here. That was a great effort. Not too many people will be doing that.

"We know that we're on the right track in terms of our technical play, but it's the detail that's letting us down there.

"I thought some of the defence work was terrific. The effort in and around the goal line showed a fair bit of character."

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