The Highlanders have been humbled 31-0 by Queenland Reds at Brisbane, failing to score Super Rugby points for the first time in five years.
Queensland had not beaten the southerners since 2016 and their margin of victory was their biggest ever.
The visitors had plenty of opportunities to score, but simply could not find a way through the Reds defence, despite camping inside the 22 for much of the second half.
Queensland needed only a couple of minutes to stamp their authority, when they launched off an attacking lineout and second-five Hunter Paisami opened the scoring.
The Highlanders had a chance when they spread the ball left inside their own 22 and fullback Connor Garden-Bachop kicked deep, but they could not win the race to the ball.
The Reds botched another scoring chance, when hooker Matt Faessler was held up short of the tryline and the clearing pass went through two sets of hands into touch.
Regaining possession, they put together 19 phases near the tryline, before lock Ryan Smith finally overpowered centre Taniela Tele'a to score.
Another Highlanders attack came to nothing, when flanker Sean Withy charged off a lineout, but lost the ball in the tackle.
Queensland suffered a big blow, when centre Jordan Petaia left the field with a shoulder injury and their rivals were able to snuff out two lunges from an attacking lineout within sight of halftime to limit the damage to 17-0 at the break.
The Highlanders were desperate to score next and put together 17 phases from the restart, before second-five Sam Gilbert dived over, but the try was ruled out for a knockon in the last tackle.
They spent a long period of time in the Reds half, without converting that territorial advantage into points. Eventually, prop Daniel Lienert-Brown spilled the ball and Paisami cleared into the Highlanders half to ease the threat.
Reds first-five Tom Lynagh almost had a try, when counterpart Ajay Faleafaga threw a loopy pass behind his receiver, but winger Jona Nareki won the race to force. From the five-metre scrum, the home side shifted left and replacement centre Lawson Creighton had an easy five points.
After the final siren, Queensland rubbed further salt into the wounds, with a lineout win and a wobbly crossfield kick from Paisami for winger Suliasi Vunivalu to score.
The Highlanders return home to face bottom-of-the-table Western Force next Saturday.
Queensland Reds 31 (Paisami, Smith, Creighton, Vunivalu tries; Lynagh 3 conversions & penalty, Creighton conversion) Highlanders 0
