The Maitland Pickers booked their spot in the 2019 Newcastle RL semi-finals with a come-from-behind 34-26 win against Lakes United at the Maitland Sportsground on Saturday.
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Trailing 26-12, the Pickers ran in four tries in the last 17 minutes to over-run the Seagulls and score what turned out to be a must-win victory with Cessnock defeating South Newcastle 18-14 at Townson Oval.
The scenes of jubilation spilled over from the ground with the players joining former players and fans on the Old Boys Hill in a huge rendition of the club's victory song.
The results mean that the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs must now at least draw with Central Newcastle to make the finals.
A victory, however, would see them jump to third place and give them an all-important double chance.
At Maitland it was mission accomplished with the single message on the white board "Win and play a home semi" achieved.
There were plenty of doubts when they trailed 26-12 and when Frazer Price was denied a try, with 20 minutes to go, ruled he was just short of the line it seemed like luck was against Maitland.
But enter joint-skipper Sam Anderson whose bustling 63rd minute try beside the posts gave the Pickers the impetus they needed.
With Lakes reduced to 12-men three minutes later when Roman Fepuleai was sin-binned for 10 minutes the Pickers surge became an irrepressible force and Price crossed in the 67th, Greg Morris in the 70th and Tylar Carter in the 77th .
Morris converted five of six goals, with Price and Jarrod Smith scoring back-to-back tries in the first half.
- Fulls story and more pictures to come.