Now comes the easy part for Kear’s men

Given their catastrophic off-season in which they had to make huge reductions to their playing budget, saw plans for a new stadium take a major hit and, finally, ended up in administration facing a four-point deduction, John Kear’s side just want to play some football.

“It’s not been easy at all,” he admitted. “The rumour and speculation leads to unrest but once the truth has come out I think the players and coaches have been quite happy to deal with that.

“However, it will feel like a relief to actually travel down to Cardiff, get a jersey on and just do what we enjoy doing – competing in games.”

Veteran coach Kear reminds people that is what rugby league should be about.

“People keep asking about licence applications, stadiums and so forth but I came in to this sport because I like playing it and continue in it because I like coaching it,” he said.

Born in Castleford, where he played and later started his coaching career as Malcom Reilly’s assistant, Kear relishes the prospect of facing his home-town club.

He sees the effervescent Rangi Chase as their most dangerous player but knows his own squad – added to with a mixture of promising youngsters and others with a point to prove – will challenge.

“All this off-field stuff has made them grow up very quickly,” he said. “If they grow up as quickly on it as they have done off it they’ll do themselves a great deal of good this season.

“I believe there will be a new owner in the very, very near future and someone I’m certain will add something to rugby league. I’m also certain on the field that we will prove we’ll be of benefit to this competition.”