FINALLY, a full-strength Cairns Saints side were asked some serious questions - and on the biggest stage of all they had an answer.
It was a brilliantly proud performance from underdogs Manunda, who threw everything at Saints in what was a brutal contest.
But it was not enough to cause the upset, with Saints prevailing 24.10 (154) to 16.9 (105) on a picturesque Saturday at Cazalys to claim their 11th Cairns AFL senior flag in just their 20th year as a football club.
The end margin was probably a little unfair on Manunda, who really had Saints stretched early during the contest.
Hulking Saints player-coach Nick Braybon said the fact they had to earn the win made the premiership extra special.
"They smashed us – that second quarter especially was pretty brutal – and played very well," Braybon said.
"For me, that is what makes this so good – we had to go out there and win it," he said.
It was in that second quarter that Manunda, who had earlier kicked four consecutive goals to finish the first term to get back within the game, could smell an upset.
Saints had earlier led by 28 points and already had nine scoring shots to one before the Hawks fought their way back to within four points at that first change.
The midfield dominance that Saints held all season was dissipating quickly, as a fired-up Hawks repeatedly cut down their rivals’ space with sheer physicality.
But Saints, somehow, weathered that to kick nine goals-to-two with the breeze and hold an eight-goal advantage at half-time.
From there, regular goals helped the minor premiers keep a comfortable lead, even though the Hawks would never go away.
It was not until a steadying goal to open the fourth quarter from Alex Macqueen (five goals) that the result was sealed.
"I’m really proud of how we didn’t drop our heads, we kept fighting all game," Hawks coach Clinton Gribble said.
"Like we said we would, we went in with that hard-nosed approach and really put it to them.
"We gave it a real crack."
Saints defender Adam Couch won the Howard Kennedy Medal for best on ground for his brave effort down back, while small forward Macqueen was quietly brilliant up front.
"He was the difference today," Saints assistant coach Max O’Halloran said.
Nick Gill battled injury and still kicked five goals when the centre-half forward was moved deeper to full forward.
For the Hawks, Bo Halter did a supreme job on Walsh, restriciting the 142-goal forward to three goals, while Jason Campbell, Willie Alick, Glen Martin and Willie Aisi were excellent at the back.
Tim Churchin again proved elusive in the forward half, booting four goals as one of 11 scorers for the Hawks.
Manunda captain Luke Powell was struck down with injury and barely played, leaving teenager Cameron Duffy as their primary big man.
"He was just sensational in that role for such a young guy," Hawks president Richard Martin said.
"We’re just so proud of their effort.We really couldn’t have asked for any more from them."
Last Modified on 26/11/2012 14:54