Groups who wait, we hear, for shooting-sticks (4)

I believe the answer is:

cues

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'groups' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cues that I've seen before include "Snooker ball strikers" , "Actor's signal" , "Snooker rods" , "Signals for action" , "Prompts for action" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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