Queensland's eight-try romp was equal parts perfection and patchwork in a rain-soaked start to their 2025 campaign.
The Reds produced some breath-taking passages of play but gave Moana Pasifika plenty of chances to claw back into the contest before finishing up 56-36 victors.
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Here's what we learned from Reds - Moana Pasifika:
Any ghosts from last year's season-derailing loss in Whangarei have been well and truly busted.
Queensland's ill-discipline saw them drop a must-win game to Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific 2024 and almost matched it with three early yellow cards but this time managed to pull away.
At 28-22 on the hour-mark, this Reds side could've easily let another game slide. Instead, the Queenslanders went up a notch with four tries in the final 20 minutes.
Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson were imperious all night at Suncorp, combining for 20 carries and 35 tackles with McReight adding three turnovers, two line break assists and a try for good measure.
While far from perfect and certainly ill-disciplined (more on that later), it's the performance and bonus-point outcome required of this side at home.
Before we pull apart the Reds' big moments and performers, a moment for tonight's unofficial best on ground - Kyren Taumoefolau.
The Moana winger now has four tries in two games this year, backing up his Force brace with another spectacular double.
Taumoefolau's battle with the Junkyard Dog - aka Tim Ryan (who added yet another try to his name) - was box office and you'd have to say the Tongan international emerged on top.
At just 21, Taumoefolau has a lethal lanky combination of height and speed underpinned by real strength in contact.
He's already been capped for Ikale Tahi but don't be surprised if the All Blacks start sniffing around this young gun.
Squint at your screens and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was 1991 at a packed Ballymore Stadium.
Tom Lynagh looked every bit his legendary father's son in a collected 72-minute performance at flyhalf that yielded a perfect seven-from-seven off the tee.
Lynagh's boot was assured in general play as well, peeling off 320m metres, while his defence (12 tackles) held up under consistent Moana pressure.
The young playmaker didn't shirk his carries either, regularly taking the ball forward and probing the defence in a statement performance to open Queensland's campaign.
It sets up a mouth-watering clash with fellow Test pivot Ben Donaldson next week in Perth - could we see Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt looking on from the HBF Park stands?
Queensland may have emerged bonus-point victors but Super Rugby Pacific rivals will take note of the Reds' first-half struggles, particularly around their defensive red-zone breakdown.
While they only conceded one first-half try, the hosts were terribly ill-disciplined at ruck time with Ryan Smith and Fraser McReight both copping the cheese for needless professional fouls.
Smith's petulant reach over a ruck was unnecessary, as was McReight's blatant ball-playing on the ground, and better teams than Moana will capitalise on an undermanned Queensland this year.
In total, the Reds conceded 10 penalties to Moana's six with eight coming at the defensive ruck and maul.
Queensland might be good, but they're not good enough to win every game with 37% possession and 26% territory.
Northern Hemisphere Twitter warriors can whinge about "optional defence" but this was still one heck of a contest and that Super Rugby Pacific product is looking damned good.
The Brisbanites brave enough to see off the rain were treated to a 12-try special with long-range tries and a see-sawing contest than remained in the balance for 70 minutes.
The recent law changes have brought additional speed and fatigue into play with smaller players finding more mismatches than ever and trailing teams able to counter and surge back into contention even faster.
That five-try blitz midway through the second half doesn't happen if referees allow tired forwards an extra breather before packing down at scrum-time.
Bravo to Super Rugby Pacific match officials and powerbrokers for pushing those variations along and turning up the heat - fans are richer for it.
