MANUNDA Hawks have sent an urgent SOS seeking experienced players after being trounced 21.22 (148) to 4.8 (32) by the North Cairns Tigers on Saturday.
Hawks president Norm Miller said the senior side desperately needed a helping hand, with the young, rebuilding side still coming to grips after a player exodus at the end of last season.
Miller said four seasoned, including two from Darwin's NTFL Premier League, would arrive in time for the Hawks' Round 7 clash against the South Cairns Cutters this weekend.
"We're a very young team I think our average age on that game (against the Tigers) was about 19 or 20," he said.
"It's not that we're going to knock back these youths, but they need some help."
Tactically, the Hawks lamented a lack of centre break possession, with Miller estimating it was 90 per cent in favour of North Cairns.
"When we eventually did go forward, their defence was repelling us and it was a very one-sided game," he said.
"We were playing a much bigger team with much more experienced players."
While the Hawks started strongly in the first quarter, booting three goals to North Cairns' four, the Tigers soon ran riot at Watsons Oval.
Centre-half forward Shaun Knott (six goals) and evergreen midfielder Lukas Ehlich (two goals) helped seal the win, which leaves North Cairns four clear on top of the ladder.
But despite the emphatic victory, a humble Tigers player-coach Kane Richter wasn't cutting his team any slack.
"We were a little bit scrappy early on and the boys didn't pay the opposition much respect," player coach Kane Richter said.
"It took until after quarter time for us to kick into gear."
He said he admired the courageous effort that the Hawks showed on the park, predicting they would become a force to be reckoned with after a few seasons under their belt.
"The Hawks have a lot of young kids and young kids bring enthusiasm.
"Playing their kids will benefit them in the long run."
In the weekend's other senior games, the Cairns Saints 23.16 (154) proved to be a class above the Cairns City Lions 14.8 (92).
The South Cairns Cutters 12.15 (87) went down to the Port Douglas Crocs 12.16 (88) in a nail-biting finish to the game at Fretwell Park.
Last Modified on 14/06/2013 12:52