Queensland will head to South Africa with wind in their sails after a 24-12 Super Rugby defeat of the Stormers.

Both sides did everything but get on the scoreboard at Suncorp Stadium on Friday in the competition’s first scoreless opening stanza in six years.

But Stormers and Springboks captain Siya Kolisi’s sin-binning on halftime broke the shackles, with the Reds prevailing in a five-try second half.

Reds leader Samu Kerevi took 90 seconds to exploit the overlap with a lovely cut-out pass before he backed up to score the game’s first.

The Reds were through the line again thanks to speedy halfback Tate McDermott minutes later, with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa claiming the five-pointer for an eventual 14-0 lead.

Kolisi’s return coincided with the Stormers’ first try, Kobus Van Dyk powering over from close-range next to the upright as the game opened up.

McDermott duly sniffed out his own five-pointer from a quick tap and – notwithstanding a Damien De Allende try for the Stormers – Bryce Hegarty booted the side out of reach with a penalty goal.

The Reds now move to 3-4 ahead of a two-game trip to the Republic.

The Reds’ task was made easier by the absence of the injured Eben Etzebeth and fellow Springboks star Pieter-Steph du Toit, who flew home for the birth of his child.

It didn’t slow the visitors early though, who were desperately unlucky not to draw first blood through Damian Willemse and Sergeal Petersen.