Tug-of-war need (4)
I believe the answer is:
rope
'tug-of-war need' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for rope that I've seen before include "Money for old . . . . Is easily earned" , "Hitch" , "Give a man enough . . . . and he'll hang himself" , "String of pearls, say" , "'Cable, cord (4)'" .)