The Reds, who were picked by many to be the wooden spooners in this year's competition, showed they are relishing their new playing style under former Australia coach Eddie Jones by recording a resounding victory.

The Queenslanders scored the only try of the first half in the 26th minute after some magic from man-of-the-match Berrick Barnes.

Former Wallabies winger Ben Tune was brought down inside the 22, but the Reds gave a quick ball and Barnes potted a perfectly weighted crossfield kick to the left wing where six-foot-six flanker Mitchell Chapman took the mark and dived over the line.

A conversion from full-back Clinton Shifcofske, on his Super 14 debut, plus earlier penalties from Shifcofske and Hurricanes fly-half Jimmy Gopperth, saw the half-time score fall 13-6 to Queensland.

Barnes then saved a certain Hurricanes try midway through the second half, making a desperate cover tackle on Thomas Waldrom after David Smith had made a clean break.

Shifcofske and Gopperth traded penalties again before Barnes kicked a field goal to make the score 25-9.

Hurricanes full-back Cory Jane scored a late consolation try but it was too little, too late as the Reds strode to a deserved victory.

Tries in each half by Stirling Mortlock and Clyde Rathbone set the ACT Brumbies up for a 21-15 victory over the Chiefs at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium in the opening round of Super 14 fixtures.

The Australia three-quarters struck early in each period as the 2004 champions overcame the New Zealanders, for whom Soseni Anesi scored twice.

The hosts were to pay for goal-kicker Stephen Donald's profligacy, with the Waikato fly-half missing four from four

The first half, which finished 10-5, saw Chiefs forwards Jono Gibbes and Marty Holah and the Brumbies' George Smith sin-binned.

Mortlock opened the scoring, converting his own fifth-minute try, and then extended the lead five minutes later with a penalty.

Donald missed a chance of a three-pointer before former All Black winger Anesi's touchdown midway through the first half.

Rathbone added to the advantage two minutes into the second half and a Julian Huxley penalty in the 49th minute further stretched the lead.

Anesi crossed the line again at the three-quarter stage, and Lelia Masaga closed the gap with his first Super 14 try, but Huxley's second penalty put the Brumbies out of reach.