The Crusaders defeated the Reds with a penalty after the fulltime siren.

The Reds led for every minute of the match except for the few heartbreaking seconds it took Crusaders goalkicker Mitch Hunt to arc over a 35m penalty goal with time up to steal a 22-20 escape.

In every part of the game, it looked like the faithful crowd of 17.931 at Suncorp Stadium were watching a fresh era being born for Super Rugby’s down-and-out performers of 2014-16.

The punchline is always the scoreboard.

The Reds blew a 17-0 lead but the indomitable Crusaders still managed to claw back a 20-7 deficit over the final 18 minutes despite Israel Dagg (knee) limping off early and hothead Jordan Taufua (punch) being sin-binned.

Powerhouse centre Samu Kerevi had done so much to drive his side to the lead that it was cruel for the final penalty to be called on him for failing to remain on his feet at a ruck when the Reds were trying to milk down the clock.

Mitch Hunt’s (C) last minute penalty gave the Crusaders a dramatic win over the Reds.Source:AAP

Kerevi had trampled over for a 10-0 lead with hapless, clutching Crusader Jack Goodhue as a pesky ankle bracelet.

Paia’aua outplayed his 26-Test rival Crotty last night and Reds across the park stepped up as giant-killers.

The night started with trepidation when Quade Cooper was on the turf grimacing over a twisted left knee.

Enough bandaging for an entire junior team held him together and the tweak forced him to play a shrewd general’s role and less of a running part.

He played his best game of the season as did Moore, Rob Simmons and George Smith.

They are all 100-game veterans but there was equal impact in the 40 willing minutes of hit-ups from lock rookie Izack Rodda and the punch in every metre of running from teenage winger Izaia Perese.

The defence disrupted the Crusaders rhythm with rattling hits like the beauty from centre Duncan Paia’aua on All Black Ryan Crotty, flanker Hendrick Tui’s vital turnover shot in defence and standout Karmichael Hunt’s ankle-cutters.

“We should have managed the end of the game better, probably kicked the ball earlier out of our territory and backed our defence,” a disappointed coach Nick Stiles said.

“When you are trying to burn the clock like that the referee is looking for a penalty in that situation.

“No hard luck ... you create your own.”

Shell-shocked Reds after Mitch Hunt’s matchwinning penalty.Source:Getty Images

A giant-killing triumph over the Kiwi side that has averaged 47 points in four big wins dating back to 2013 would have proved there is a Reds revival brewing, not another chapter to rugby’s book of Hard Luck Losses.

The urgency of the Reds was established in the opening seconds when hooker Stephen Moore dived on a loose ball as if taking a grenade for his team.

The proud hat-trick of wins over the Crusaders in 2010-11 were all created by the Reds going fast and direct at the Kiwis to keep challenging them.

Kerevi was enormous again with the 25m dash into open space off a fine low Moore gather-and-pass.

The 106kg Fijian looked to have a gone a stride too far, but even with two defenders on him, he put winger Eto Nabuli over.

Reds player Eto Nabuli crosses for a first-half try for the Reds.Source:AAP

The first half lead of 20-7 included plenty of what this new Reds side needs to stand for.

There were several feisty shove-fests but it was the Reds who kept their cool. Lock Simmons wouldn’t back down in the face of the Crusaders pack and it was Taufua who lashed out with a punch that cost his side big-time with a yellow card.

No Crusaders side is ever out of it. Even down to 14 men, replacement halfback Bryan Hall scored his second try to close the gap to 20-19 with four minutes to play.

SCORE

CRUSADERS 22 (B Hall 2, M Drummond tries; M Hunt 2 conv, pen goal) bt REDS 20 (S Kerevi, E Nabuli tries; Q Cooper 2 conv, 2 pen goal)

Originally published as Heartbreak! Reds blow big lead against Crusaders