Despite being written off by bookmakers and experts, Wollongong Hawks can defy the odds and qualify for the NBL play-offs, says coach Eric Cooks.Betting markets have the Hawks posted on the second-last line of betting as $34 outsiders to win the NBL championship with only Sydney Spirit ($81) ranked lower.The Hawks have failed to qualify for the finals for the past two seasons and are coming off an 11th-place finish last year. Most experts have predicted they will miss the play-offs.Cooks admitted his team looks under-strength on paper but said Wollongong have the right balance to surprise their critics this season. "In some ways I can understand it," Cooks said of the outsiders tag. "A lot of other teams have recruited well; it's definitely going to be a tough league this year.""On paper we're probably not in the top-six teams. But I think the difference is we've got that spirit that has kept us around for 20 years, that the bookies might not see - that will be the difference between us being second last and in the top six. And once you make the top six anything can happen, and top six is a realistic goal for this team." Point guard and on-court leader Kavossy Franklin says how others perceived his team didn't concern him, but he added it would provide motivation for the Hawks."Everybody has opinions. I respect everybody's opinion - it's just an opinion, it's not the truth. My thing is, I'll try to go out and prove them wrong," Franklin said."We're going to be a competitive team - we're going to go out and compete each and every time we step out there on the floor. "It's not going to be like last year where teams come in and feel like they can roll over on us; it's not going to happen. We're going to compete and we're going to try and win every game."The fiery guard said he was used to being underestimated during his five years in the NBL."This is not the first time that I've been out here on a team and this has happened," he said. "They said that when I was at the Dragons, then they said at the Pirates that I wouldn't win anything, so it's not new to me."The Hawks fly to New Zealand this morning where they will face the Breakers in their opening game of the season on Thursday. Tip-off is 5.30pm AEST.