Tune's first try of his final Super 14 season on the half-hour mark had a sparse 12,500 crowd on their feet when he picked off an ill-directed pass from Cheetahs centre Meyer Bosman and ran untouched for an emotional 70m intercept score.

The 1999 World Cup winner's 36th try of a dazzling 12-year Reds career - in his 110th Queensland appearance - added to lock James Horwill's superbly crafted opener and handed Queensland a deserved 14-3 half-time lead.

Cheetahs No.8 Kabamba Floors replied soon after the break, but the Reds finally managed to hang onto a lead to end a horror sequence of nine consecutive losses.

It was Queensland's first win since the opening round of the season and provides some hope the beleaguered club might finish the season off the bottom of the ladder.

The Highlanders withstood a barnstorming finish from the Waratahs to clinch a 26-25 win in the Super 14 match at Sydney’s Aussie Stadium on Saturday night.

The Waratahs looked down and out trailing the Highlanders 26-6 with 14 minutes remaining before staging a remarkable three-try comeback to almost snatch an unlikely win.

Fullback Peter Hewat scored two of the Waratahs’ three touchdowns and had the chance to win the game when attempting a sideline conversion of his second try with a minute remaining. But unfortunately he hooked the attempt and the Highlanders sneaked home by the barest margin.

The Waratahs’ loss coupled with Queensland Reds win over the Cheetahs has kept the Super 14 wooden spoon battle alive with four points now separating the two Australian teams at the foot of the competition ladder with two rounds remaining.