The Pickers had beaten the Butcher Boys twice in the regular season, amassing 97 points in the process, and when they led 18-16 at half-time it looked like they were on course for a third.

The do-or-die final looked to be Maitland’s when they led 26-16 inside the final 10 minutes before Central stormed home with two tries to force golden point.

Momentum had swung in favour of the home side and they capitalised on the shift with a golden-point field goal that closed the door on Maitland’s finals hopes.

The senior club’s hopes now rest on the minor premiership-winning under-18 Black side, who will face off in the major semi-final next Sunday following a week off for finishing on top.

Earlier on Saturday Kurri Kurri Bulldogs’ last remaining finals hope also ended when the under-18s went down 30-16 to Coalfields rivals Cessnock.