The colossal Crusaders enhanced one of world sport's most remarkable records to ruthlessly end the Reds' season with a 32-12 victory in Christchurch.
Surpassing tennis's 30-love scoreline, the Crusaders improved their perfect record in home finals to 30-0 to at their fortress on Friday night to leave the Reds wondering where to next.
"The Crusaders, they're hard to beat here. I think we've beaten them once in 26 years now, so it's tough," Kiss lamented.
Needing to become the first Australian side in three decades to win a play-off match in New Zealand to make the semi-finals, the writing was on the wall for the Reds well before they kicked off at Apollo Projects Stadium.
Adding to the odds stacked against Kiss's side, the Reds had lost 13 of their previous 14 games against the 12-times Super Rugby kings, while the Crusaders were also riding a 16-match winning streak in finals stretching back to 2016.
The Crusaders, typically, made the ill-disciplined visitors pay with the only two first-half tries.
The hosts then resisted an early second-half challenge to put the Reds to the sword, jumping out to a 27-0 advantage with two more strikes before a couple of late consolation tries improved the losing scoreline.
"Obviously really disappointed with the result," Reds captain Tate McDermott said.
"Really proud of this group and the season we had but, yeah, you've got to give credit to the Crusaders.
"They were 're all over us at the breakdown and collision area and we just couldn't get into our cycle."
It was an all-too-familiar flame-out for the Reds, who have now departed in the quarter-finals every year since 2022, falling twice to both the Crusaders and the Chiefs and always in New Zealand.
Kiss has one more season to right the wrongs before taking over from Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach next July.
The 60-year-old is adamant the Reds are capable of taking the next step in 2025.Â
"We used 38 players this year. That's one thing I'm very proud of," he said.
"We didn't have a good injury run, but that happens, but the boys who stood up and came in - Dre Pakejo for one, Joe Brial has had a massively good year.
"You know, young men that keep stepping up for us. That's really pleasing. I'm very proud of the program that it delivers that.
"However, this is a point that we've stopped at each year and we've got to be able to find a way to get through to that next level for sure.
"We've got enough good people in the organisation, from the players right through to our professional rugby staff, so we can do it. We know that.
"I really feel for them all because they put a great shift in this year, all of them, and to finish up like this is despondent."
The Reds' exit from the finals leaves the ACT Brumbies as Australia's last team standing.
After finishing third in the minor premiership, the Brumbies host the fourth-placed Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night and will progress to the semi-finals even if they lose, provided the sixth-placed Blues don't upset the minor premiership-winning Chiefs in Hamilton.
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