Reds 22 Blues 35

David Nucifora's Blues kept their slim Super 14 finals hopes alive by downing the Reds 35-22 in a bonus point win at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

Nucifora ended an emotional week on a high as the Blues overcame an error-riddled Reds four tries to three.

But it was a rollercoaster ride for the Blues mentor - who announced this week that he would walk away from the club at season's end.

The visitors were sitting pretty at halftime, leading 20-7.

By the 60th minute the Reds were up - as was Nucifora's blood pressure - 22-20 after Peter Hynes snaffled a spilt ball and raced 60m to score, bringing the 15,732-strong crowd to their feet.

But normal service resumed when the Blues piled on the next 15 points to clinch the bonus point win they desperately needed.

To stay alive in the finals hunt, the Blues had to win their last three games - complete with bonus points.

So far so good.

But the performance was inconsistent and after halftime the teams seemed to swap roles.

Suddenly it was the Blues making unforced errors and the Reds pouring on the points.

After trailing 20-7 at halftime, the Reds rattled off 15 unanswered points with tries to lock Van Humphries and winger Hynes' flying effort.

But just as Queensland coach Phil Mooney dared to dream of bragging rights over his schoolboy chum, the Reds self destructed with dropped balls and soft defence.

Blues lock Kurtis Haiu crashed over in the 63rd minute to regain the lead, Nick Evans calmly potted over a 74th minute penalty and Taniela Moa reached over the line minutes later to break Queensland's heart.

Both sides chanced their arm early but it was an Evans penalty that broke the deadlock in the 11th minute after Reds skipper James Horwill was pinged for a high tackle.

The Reds answered just four minutes later through David Croft after No.8 Leroy Houston popped up out of the back of the scrum to offload to the nuggety flanker right next to the posts.

But from there on it was one way traffic in the first half.

Flanker Jerome Kaino muscled past Horwill under the posts in the 24th minute.

Then Houston spilt the ball and the Blues pounced, sending flyhalf Isa Nacewa over to make it 17-7.

Fullback Evans extended the pain with a penalty right on halftime.

BLUES 35 (Jerome Kaino, Isa Nacewa, Kurtis Haiu, Taniela Moa tries Nick Evans 3 goals, 3 pens) bt QUEENSLAND REDS 22 (David Croft, Van Humphries, Peter Hynes tries Clinton Schifcofske 2 goals, pen) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Rsa). Crowd: 15,732.