The Blues leaders Sir John Kirwan and Ali Williams have hailed Queensland's match-winning defence after they were beaten by the Reds 12-11 in Brisbane.
The Reds went tryless in a win for the first time since Super Rugby's debut season in 1996.
Quade Cooper kicked all four penalty goals in another eye-catching performance.
The Blues had a game plan of keeping the ball and dominating possession, and it worked for most of the match especially in the first half.
The Auckland-based side scored the game's only and led 11-9 at half-time.
But the battle of attrition went the way of the Reds after first five eighths Quade Cooper coolly slotted the winner in the 75th minute, the penalty in a cruel outcome for the Blues.
The Auckland-based side looked set to break through and make the match safe countless times, only to be denied time and again by a desperate Reds defence.