The Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds have played out an 18-all draw following a 90-minute contest in their Super Rugby AU encounter at Brookvale Oval in Sydney.

The contest was forced into a historic 10-minute Super Time period — the first played in Australia's new domestic competition — when a last-minute try to Reds replacement Alex Mafi was converted by James O'Connor after the siren.

Neither side was able to break the deadlock in Super Time, much to the displeasure of the small crowd in attendance at the home ground of NRL club Manly.

The Rebels, who lost their Super Rugby AU opener to the Brumbies last weekend, had seemingly done enough to secure victory over the Reds when they led by 10 points with five minutes remaining following an intercept try to Billy Meakes.

But an O'Connor penalty goal in the 75th minute — after he had thrown the errant pass to Meakes — and Mafi's last-gasp try, dashed the Rebels' hopes of winning during regular time.

The exciting finish was in stark contrast to a dour first half played in mostly driving rain.

The Rebels, who were hosting the match in Sydney because of the recent coronavirus spike in Melbourne, opened the scoring with a penalty to five-eighth Matt Toomua in the eighth minute.

Bizarrely, given the wet conditions, the Rebels turned down another gift three points shortly after, declining a shot from in front of the posts only for Toomua to then attempt a long-range field goal from a returning line-out a minute later.

They still went to the break with a 6-0 lead after Toomua landed a second penalty.

The Reds, coming off last Friday night's win over New South Wales in Brisbane, finally had something to cheer about at Brookvale Oval when O'Connor put Filipo Daugunu over in the left corner with a lovely long ball to the winger.

O'Connor then gave the Reds the lead for the first time with a 42-metre penalty.

It did not last long, though, with Wallabies star Reece Hodge — after surprisingly starting on the bench — sliding over for the Rebels' second try in the 55th minute.

Super Rugby AU continues on Saturday night, with the Western Force making their debut in the competition when they take on the Waratahs at the SCG.

AAP/ABC