The Tigers may be kicking plenty of goals, but it is their remarkable defensive effort that is turning heads two months into the AFL Cairns premiership season.
The North Cairns side have conceded just 56 points per game on average, including three, four and two-goal shut-downs of sides in three of the last four games they have played.
They kept defending champions Saints to just 10 goals in their round two encounter, before a bold Cairns City Lions threw down the gauntlet and kicked 13 on Sunday in what still turned out to be a one-sided affair.
It was similar defence that helped Saints dominate the season last year, winnning the premiership with just one regular-season loss to their name.
North's Adam Mueller is in his second year with the club since shifting north from Brisbane NEAFL team Redland Bombers, where he played exactly 100 games.
The 25-year-old said the side was steeled for a big season but was trying to keep a lid on their promising start.
"We know a lot of the other teams have a lot of good players to return, so that means we are going to have to keep improving," he said.
"Kane Richter (captain coach) is very invested in the club and we've been on the receiving end of a few sprays if he thinks we are losing focus."
Mueller said Labrador recruit Dustin Mills had helped watertight the Tigers' defence at full-back. "He's played that high level as well and his talk and leadership has made it a lot more stable at the back,' Mueller said.
The centre-half forward kicked seven goals in a best-on-ground performance against the Lions and said he had noticed a personal improvement since moving into the city this year.
Last season he spent his time travelling between Thursday Island - where he was teaching - and Cairns to play.
"It was great up there, fishing and camping and diving and it was a massive change from Brisbane. But living in Cairns is certainly a lot easier and better for my footy."
The Tigers will host Saints on Saturday, pitting Mueller up against his Saint Augustine's work colleague and the competition's leading goal kicker Matt Walsh.
Mueller now sits second on that list and said the to-and-fro during the working week was always good fun.
"There is a fair bit of chat during the week and it was good to finally get the win against them (in round two) after they were far too good for us last season," Mueller said.
"We know they've got lots of injuries and will certainly improve as the season goes on, so we won't be taking anything for granted because we want to be beating them at season's end."
Last Modified on 31/07/2013 15:43