Vern Cotter’s Blues have broken the hearts of the Queensland Reds by scoring after the whistle to seal an epic come-from-behind win in Brisbane on Saturday night.

The Reds looked like they would pull off one of the upsets of the season when 20-year-old rising star Tim Ryan ran away to score his third try to open up an 11-point lead after 64 minutes.

But the Blues, who have brought a harder and more ruthless edge under former Scotland and Fiji coach Cotter, scored three tries in the final 11 minutes, including the winner to replacement halfback Sam Nock in the 82nd minute, to leave the Reds shattered.