IT WAS a night Queensland Reds fullback James O'Connor would rather forget as his team lost 21-14 to the Sharks at Suncorp Stadium.

He let in a horror try to halfback Stefan Ungerer in the 69th minute, badly miscuing his clearing kick which went just 10m.

Just four minutes later he gave away a penalty while his team was pressing the Sharks' line, for running into teammate and five-eighth Jake McIntyre.

It was Ungerer who put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute with a run and dummy from a scrum 20m out.

The Reds responded seven minutes later with an 80m try to Chris Kuridrani that went through multiple hands.

But the Sharks had a 16-7 lead at halftime thanks to the Reds' ill-discipline, giving away eight penalties to four.

As a result, Francois Steyn kicked three penalty goals.

Big Reds outside centre Samu Kerevi crashed over from close range to see his team trail 16-14 after 51 minutes.

But O'Connor's big late clanger helped end the Sharks' six-game losing streak.

SHARKS 21 (S Ungerer 2 tries; F Steyn 3 pens, con) REDS 14 (C Kuridrani, S Kerevi tries tries; J O'Connor 2 pens). At Suncorp Stadium last night.