Both teams had double-figure leads during the see-sawing contest at the Kurri Sports Ground.

Kurri coach Phil Williams said the Coalfields Derby was a must win game after their opening round loss to Western Suburbs last weekend.

And the Bulldogs got off to a flying start in front of a healthy home crowd with Lachlan Shipard scoring in the corner after six minutes.

Ryan Heath made it 10-0 when he scored in the opposite corner from a pin point cross field kick from fullback Neenan Simpson.

Kurri were the better team in the opening half hour but the visitors fought back and hit the front just before half-time.

Giant prop Peter Rata crossed twice in three minutes for the Pickers to give them a 12-10 lead at the break.

Maitland extended their lead to 22-10 with a pair of tries early in the second half.

Billy Towers scored under the posts after claiming a Chad Solman bomb before Bayden Mulholland crossed in the corner.

Kurri also lost Damien Walters to a lower leg injury with the centre stretchered off early in the second half.

But Kurri refused to quit, with Cullen scoring twice to level the scores at 22-all.

There was late drama when Rata was sent to the sin bin leaving Maitland down to 12 players when 

he was the third man in to a scuffle after Maitland fullback Tyme Dow’nikau was hit high by Jay Stevens.

And it proved to be the difference as Cullen completed his hat-trick with two minutes left on the clock to win the game for the Bulldogs.

See Monday’s Mercury for a full wrap of Kurri’s 28-22 win over Maitland to retain the Mercury Shield.