Relegation and promotion good for game’s future, insists Kear

The decorated coach, who memorably guided Trinity to safety on the final day of the 2006 season, has always believed promotion and relegation is intrinsic to the sport.

That Wakefield memorably pulled off that ‘Great Escape’ eight years ago, condemning his home-town and former club Castleford to the drop after a fraught encounter at a sold-out Belle Vue, is immaterial.

In his eyes, the theories abound that relegation can be so catastrophic to a club – part of the reasoning behind licencing coming into play at the end of 2007 – just do not add up.

It is no surprise, then, that the former Hull FC chief is pleased to see the dreaded ‘R’ word is back on the agenda for 2014.

“It’s the way all British sports operate,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“It’s in our culture. And I don’t think it did Cas’ any harm.

“They came straight back up again, while it certainly didn’t do Huddersfield Giants any harm.

“In fact, (Giants chairman) Ken Davy said he felt the season spent outside Super League (2002) was the start of growth that resulted in them lifting the League Leaders’ Shield last year.

“I honestly think it would have benefited London Broncos, too, if they had gone down. Obviously, nobody wants it to happen but it’s how we react to such adversity that gives a clue to the strength and resolve of all those involved.

“When you’re involved in elite sport, the idea is that results have consequences. As a coach, you are certainly aware of that and as players you are, too, as it’s the only way to retain your job.

“Obviously, fans like that aspect of it as well where there are rewards for being at the top and jeopardy as well near the bottom.

“It will add something to Super League this year and will certainly prevent meaningless games played at three-quarter pace at the end of the season.”

Kear’s impact on turning around Wakefield’s fortunes in 2006 is now ingrained in RL folklore.

When he took over from the sacked Tony ‘Casper’ Smith in early August, they were rooted to the foot of the table, having lost seven of their previous eight games.

Two points adrift of Catalan Dragons – who were exempt from relegation – and three from Castleford and Wigan, of all teams, it was so dire bookmakers had them as 1-8 favourites for demotion.

Kear calculated they would need to win four of their final six games to stay up – hardly likely given they had won just six all season –and he was proved right.

However, he had already masterminded the biggest shock in the sport’s history when Sheffield Eagles stunned Wigan in the 1998 Challenge Cup final and would soon oversee another remarkable tale.

That last game was dubbed ‘Survival Saturday’ with the winners knowing they would secure their top-flight future and £1m of central funding.

The losers would hurtle into the National League and, inevitably, see their squad dismantled and facing an opaque future.

Castleford had only been promoted 12 months earlier but, initially, had seemed more than capable of survival. That, Kear argues, was their eventual downfall.

“The previous five games we’d won and we had the wind in our sails but Cas’ had possibly put the cue in the rack,” he recollected.

“We actually played our lads the video of Cas v London from a few weeks earlier when, after the win, all their players were there waving to the fans.

“Brad Davis was telling them all they were going to send Wakey down and Danny Sculthorpe was even walking around the pitch with his dog.

“It was as if they were saying ‘job done’. We felt it wasn’t. That result was the epitome of that.”

Wakefield fell 11-2 behind in that crucial decider before eventually pulling away 29-17 victors.

“You attempt to appear to be relaxed, but your stomach is churning,” admitted Kear, about that nerve-shredding evening.

“You need to curb your emotions and we did that. We went behind but, bearing that in mind, the players coped so well.

“They fought back and it was an amazing night though anything but comfortable until James Evans got his second try with about eight minutes to go.”

Kear is now working for Championship outfit Batley Bulldogs.

With two clubs relegated from Super League at the end of this season, it paves the way next term for two divisions of 12 teams, which divides into three of eight after 23 rounds.

The top four Championship clubs will tackle the bottom four in Super League opening up a pathway for a return to the elite.

Kear is a fan of the concept and added: “If it works where there’s meaningful games throughout the season then I’m all for it.

“It’ll never be a level playing field in terms of money but I just hope the Championship clubs get nearer even when it comes to that being sorted. I’m pretty certain if they did then the likes of Halifax, Featherstone, Leigh and Sheffield – with full-time preparation – should be able to compete with Super League’s bottom three.”

Clearly, there is no mention of Batley there. Does Kear ever envisage taking the unfashionable West Yorkshire club into the elite?

“It shows respect for our rivals and a bit of modesty that we don’t put ourselves up for that,” he said.

“But, then again, we did get to the Grand Final last year. We want to play at the highest possible level within the resources of the club.”

Though Batley fell at the final hurdle against Sheffield, having made history by plotting their course from fifth, they have shown recently an ability to compete with Super League sides.

“We played London Broncos in the Challenge Cup in 2012 and lost by six points,” said Kear.

“I’m still convinced if Craig Gower hadn’t have played that day we’d have won.

“We faced Huddersfield last year and that was only settled by a Danny Brough drop goal and a late penalty – and they came top of Super League last season.

“It might add a bit of fire to the argument. It is possible.

“Obviously, on the flip side Sheffield were resoundingly beaten by London last season – although I do think that was Sheffield’s worst performance of the season.”