Reds coach Kiss 'rapt for the boys' after rousing Super Rugby win
Victory at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday evening propelled them to fourth on the ladder with three wins from four and a game in hand on some of their rivals.
The clash was a dour affair for almost an hour before a double from Wallabies flyhalf Carter Gordon and another dazzling five-pointer for Isaac Henry got the Reds home.
"We absorbed a lot of possession pressure but we stayed in the fight. I was really rapt for the boys," said Kiss. "We had different people stand up in different moments."
The Reds won with just 38 percent possession and were forced to make 181 tackles to 104 by the Waratahs in a reflection of how deep they needed to dig.
Trailing 17-12 on 70 minutes, utility back Filipo Daugunu burst through the defence to send centre Henry careering away on a 40 metre run to the try-line for 19-17 advantage.
Then four minutes later Gordon beat two defenders from almost a standing start to score from 55 metres out and seal the win.
"That finish. We spoke about it," said skipper Fraser McReight.
"We knew the last 15 (minutes) was going to be important. That was the message all today and all week. We did a fantastic job of it."
Defeat was the second in a row for the Waratahs after their heavy 59-19 thrashing by the Wellington Hurricanes at home a week ago.
"Big games like this, it's little moments," said frustrated Waratahs coach Dan McKellar.
"If you want to be a top-four side you have to win those moments and we didn't.
"They're the harsh learnings, and you sit here very disappointed."
The Waratahs return home to face the Auckland Blues next weekend while the Reds take on Fijian Drua in Lautoka.