Black confident ‘gem’ Kear can help Batley lift Grand final crown

BEN Black believes “legendary” coach John Kear has fostered a team spirit which could see Batley Bulldogs pull off a remarkable Championship title success.
Featherstone's Greg Worthington is caught by Batley's Ben Black.Featherstone's Greg Worthington is caught by Batley's Ben Black.
Featherstone's Greg Worthington is caught by Batley's Ben Black.

The unfashionable West Yorkshire club stunned league leaders Featherstone Rovers with a golden point extra-time win at Post Office Road to reach their first Grand Final, against champions Sheffield Eagles on Sunday.

Batley, who finished fifth, are not synonymous with silverware; their surprise Northern Rail Cup win three years ago was a first major success since their solitary league title in 1924.

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However, stand-off Black feels Kear – who famously won the Challenge Cup with Sheffield in 1998 – can guide them to a historic victory at the weekend.

“The boys have really dug deep all year and JK is just the perfect gem,” said the Australian.

“He’s a legend coach and if one person’s going to take us there and win it, it’s him.

“John’s won Challenge Cup finals, coached in Super League for ages and he’s brought this bulldog spirit in here. It’s amazing.

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“No one gives up ever and we’re a side where everyone works hard, works a nine-to-five job and then comes in three days a week.

“This is an amazing achievement not just for us but the club as well. We’ve been on such a high these last six weeks and these two golden point games just prove we’ve really stuck together.”

While George Flanagan came up with Sunday’s crucial drop-goal to complete a stirring fightback from 18-0 down, it had been Black who delivered in a thrilling 15-14 extra-time win at Leigh the week before.

Batley have now won five successive matches and he admitted: “It’ll be tough as Sheffield are our bogey team. We never beat them. But we’re going to play them at a different venue – Leigh – and JK has shown he’s the perfect man to get us to this final and to win it.

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“He knows how to get us up for these games so I’m confident.”

Black, also, memorably helped Halifax win a Grand Final with a golden point drop-goal against Featherstone in 2010, 12 months after losing against Barrow.

“The boys will be a little nervous as a lot haven’t been here before, but hopefully my experience can calm people down,” he said.