The Queenslanders completed the regular season with a 19-11 win at Hamilton tonight, leaving departing Chiefs coach Ian Foster, captain Mils Muliaina and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu to depart the franchise on a losing note.
Wallabies first five-eighth Quade Cooper was a class act for the Queenslanders, a goalkicking return of five from six him 14 points to ice the fine work of his forwards.
As top qualifiers the Reds now have a week to rest bruised bodies and hope that a number of injured leading players will return in time to leave an impression on the playoffs.
Tonight's match at Waikato Stadium produced just two tries in wet conditions, the first of them an early statement of intent from teenaged Reds openside flanker Liam Gill.
The Chiefs went close on three occasions in the second half, twice being held up over the line then No 8 Fritz Lee lost the ball over the line.
Fritz atoned minutes later when a storming 20m run from the base of the scrum carried him to the line but Stephen Donald's missed conversion left the home side outside of striking distance in the last few minutes.
The Reds led 10-6 at halftime before Cooper's goalkicking stretched the difference out to 13 points as he made the Chiefs pay for a series of transgression which earned the attention of referee Keith Brown.
The first half was a half of two halves, with the Reds forwards particularly aggressive in the first quarter as they exposed the Chiefs' frailties with a direct, physical approach.
But the complexion of the match changed after 20 minutes as the Chiefs finally warmed to their work despite losing lock Romana Graham to the sinbin for a professional foul then dangerous wing Sivivatu to a shoulder injury.
The early signs were ominous for the Chiefs as 19-year-old flanker Gill barged over the line in just the sixth minute after a series of pick and goes by his fellow forwards.
Quade Cooper's conversion and a penalty 7min later opened up a 10-point difference which first five-eighth Donald dragged back to four with two penalties in the last 9min of the spell, the first of them from 48m.
