The Waratahs have come from behind to register a last-minute 30-28 win against the Reds in front of 22,582 fans at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night in the first round of the Super 14 season.
In an ugly affair the Waratahs were outscored three tries to two and trailed their northern rivals for almost an hour before Wycliff Palu crashed over the line to tear victory from the Reds with two minutes left on the clock.
With their star-studded backline being outplayed throughout, it was Berrick Barnes' kicking that kept New South Wales in touch, allowing his side to drag itself over the line with two late tries.
Both the Waratahs and the Reds came out fired up and after an early attacking kick from Berrick Barnes resulted in a knock on, the two sides came together for some push and shove.
New South Wales had an opportunity to register an early try, when right-side winger Lachie Turner flew on to a well-weighted kick for Barnes, but Turner somehow fumbled as he dived for the line.
The Reds, were looking to spread the ball early and both Digby Ioane and Rod Davies found space on the flanks in mini-breaks.
After some sustained pressure from the Reds, the Waratahs gifted the Queenslanders a penalty, with players failing to retreat after a clearing kick.
Unfortuantely for the Reds, Quade Cooper's conversion attempt 10 metres in from the right-hand side line, could only graze the post.
Looking to atone for his miss, Cooper brought the Suncorp crowd to life with a brutal hit on Barnes moments after the Waratahs flyhalf cleared the ball downfield.
Barnes registered the first points of the game with a field goal from straight in front at the 19-minute mark.
New South Wales' lead was short lived when minutes later a cut-out pass from Quade Cooper found flanker Daniel Braid who trampled Drew Mitchell and scored.
Kicking from almost the same spot that he'd missed from earlier, Cooper managed to readjust and add the extras for the Reds.
Tensions flared again in the 25th minute, when Digby Ioane and Sosene Anesi tangled in the backline, resulting in a penalty for the Reds.
The Waratahs reduced the margin to a point when Barnes converted a penalty, awarded after Peter Hynes failed to roll away.
The Reds fired right back with Cooper lifting his tally to two from three after Barnes was penalised for coming into the ruck from the side.
Hynes was again penalised at the 37-minute mark, this time for failing to release the ball, but, much to the delight of the crowd, Barnes failed to kick the penalty from 45 metres out.
With neither side playing their best football, it was the Reds who went to the break leading 10-7, but with plenty of work in front of them.
The Reds came into the second half with plenty of resolve and in a sweeping backline movement drove the ball deep into the Waratahs' half.
The Reds continued to attack the New South Wales defensive line with patience, until skipper James Horwill charged over, taking the score to 15-6, where it stayed after Cooper missed the conversion.
The two sides swapped a pair of penalty goals, and with just over half an hour to go the Reds continued to hold a nine-point advantage.
Again the Waratahs narrowed the margin through the boot of Barnes, after the New South Wales playmaker slotted another penalty.
As their opposition continued to score their points in threes, the Reds were staying aggressive and after a slashing Peter Hynes break, Cooper was able to position himself for a simple field goal.
With 20 minutes remaining New South Wales again slashed the deficit to six points when Barnes kicked his fifth for the night, keeping the Waratahs within sight.
With Barnes on the bench, it was left to replacement Daniel Halangahu to kick the next penalty after Van Humphries was ruled to have taken out a kick chaser.
With 10 minutes left in the game Queensland's electric scrum-half Will Genia burst down the blind side, chipped the last defender and ran through to be awarded a penalty try after 'Tahs defender Ben Mowen was ruled to have impeded his chase.
Cooper converted the try from right in front, but the Reds' 10-point lead lasted only minutes before a left-hand side overlap resulted in an unconverted try to the Waratahs, and a 23-28 score line.
The Waratahs were reduced to 14 men when referee Craig Joubert yellow-carded Mumm for a cheap shot on Reds hooker Ezra Taylor.
With less than two minutes left on the clock and the Reds on the verge of snapping a five-game losing streak against the Waratahs, Wycliff Palu crashed over to hand his side the win and break the hearts of the Queensland fans.
With the scores level, the teams again had to be separated before Halangahu could kick the Waratahs to victory from right in front.