And Gibson has revealed around a third of the squad were struck by illness in the lead-up to the game, which makes their against-the-odds victory even more remarkable.

A last-gasp try from captain Michael Hooper helped NSW claim their second consecutive win against the Stormers away from home and fill the squad with belief that their season is far from over.

Gibson praised his players for their tireless work for the entire 80 minutes in a game where they had 41 per cent of the ball and were inferior in a number of areas on the stats sheet.

The Waratahs have drawn level with the Brumbies on 21 points and are two points behind Australian conference leaders Melbourne Rebels (23). NSW also have a game in hand.

"It's an excellent result for us," Gibson said. "We knew we had to come here and win to give ourselves a chance in the Australian conference and with that win today we move into a position where we're in contention. We're genuine contenders. We've had our struggles, we've gone through that losing period and we're coming out the other side."

NSW have been itching for a trip on the road for some time now. Numerous players in the lead-up to the Perth/Cape Town tour spoke about how getting away would galvanise the squad.

But it appears a mystery illness caused havoc in the Waratahs camp before their crucial clash, with a third of the 27-man squad affected, including man-of-the-match Hooper.

"We had a bit of a virus going around camp during the week and at training on Friday and he came through well," Gibson said. "The person who introduced that to our team, he's been getting a bit of lip but the guys just got on with it."

Criticised by many, the Waratahs departed Sydney airport last Friday with their season hanging by a thread but will return on Monday with their tails up and as confident as they have been in 2016.

"A win is fantastic for the soul, it gives you a lot of belief. I think we've grown a lot as a team over the last two weeks being on the road," Gibson said. "Michael's leading the team very well and things are coming together for us. In this tournament you need momentum at crucial parts of the year and for us we go home now and we've got two home games against South African opposition. I think the guys have got real incentive and motivation now."

Days after receiving the backing of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, openside breakaway Hooper was at his dogged best.

He made 17 tackles and was a menace around the breakdown before scoring the match-winning try underneath the posts with two minutes remaining.

The fist-pumps and celebrations that followed showed how much it meant to the boys in sky blue, whose tight-five orchestrated a match-defining turnover on the Stormers line from a scrum in the shadows of full-time.

"Hugely impressive, [we had] really cool heads under pressure there," Hooper said. "We powered over. I'm not sure what their play was at the back there. The ball was in there for a fair while and our guys managed to get over the top and keep our legs moving.

"[We've] been in that position a couple of times this year and haven't got the reward, so to come here tonight under huge pressure and at a hard place to win, really proud of the guys. We weren't happy with the start of the year. We were getting close and we were getting sniffs, we knew what we could do. Some guys have really stepped up over the past couple of weeks leading the team around on the field."

Gibson believed referee Mike Fraser made the correct call in sending off Stormers winger Leolin Zas in the 57th minute for a careless hit on Bernard Foley who was attempting to catch a high ball.

Foley ended up landing on his head; something Gibson said should be avoided at all costs.

"I think it's borderline [a red card] and probably correct technically," Gibson said. "I think the primary concern is safety. You can't have people landing on their heads, that is dangerous."