It was a game that was supposed to "kick-start" Queensland's Super Rugby season after Quade Cooper's long-awaited return from injury.
But the 18-17 loss to South African outfit the Lions at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night looks set to have sunk the boot into the Reds' 2015 hopes.
Reds coach Richard Graham hoped to finally get their season started with six players returning from injury, including his talisman Cooper (collarbone) against the lowly Lions.
However, by fulltime, it was the Johannesburg outfit (3-4 record) daring to dream after sealing their third win on an Australasian tour for the first time.
That man Cooper did have a chance to emerge the hero, but his last-gasp field goal attempt was easily charged down by a Lions outfit who have won three of their past four games - all away.
Cooper's return was supposed to coincide with another rare sight at Suncorp Stadium this season - a Queensland win.
Cooper, in his first game since the Wallabies' 2014 spring tour, was also expected to provide the Reds something else they had been lacking - a natural No.10 and a goalkicker who can make rivals pay for mistakes.
And, of course, someone to execute the game plan the Reds had spoken at length about but had been unable to execute with up to 14 players sidelined by injury at one stage.
But Graham found himself under the same old pressure as Queensland slumped to what should be a season sinking 1-5 record.
The Lions led 8-3 at halftime.
And after a scorching Andries Coetzee touch finder, Queensland made a mess of the resulting lineout before Lions flanker Warwick Tecklenburg crashed over in the 49th minute to make it 15-3.
But the Reds hit back with a 53rd-minute penalty try barely 60 seconds before the TMO determined Queensland flanker Curtis Browning was caught short as Lions winger Ruan Combrink was sin-binned in the lead-up.
Queensland suddenly unleashed their running gameplan, with centre Samu Kerevi crossing in the 68th minute off a set piece to give the hosts the lead 17-15.
However, Ben Tapuai inexplicably failed to release the ball right in front in the 72nd minute and five-eighth Elton Jantjies did the rest to gift the visitors an 18-17 buffer.
Reds reserve winger Chris Feauai-Sautia was denied a 75th-minute try due to poor grounding even though he appeared to run off a forward pass.
Reds coach Richard Graham had hoped to use the game - the start of a five-game block in between byes - as the start of an unlikely finals push thanks to the welcome return of so many players.
However, he admitted all the new faces worked against them initially in the must-win clash.
"Early in the game there was a lack of cohesion because we came into the game under pressure not having played as a group," he said.
On Cooper's return, Graham said: "He probably did everything you would expect Quade to do."
Meanwhile, Lions mentor Johan Ackermann could not wipe the smile off his face.
"You always want to win overseas and beat someone," he said.
"But after we lost our first two games at home this (three away wins) is the cream on top.
"We are not a team of stars. We are just a bunch of guys who play for the jersey and the 80 minutes."
