John Kear wants Bradford take on Ben Stokes approach when they play Wakefield

Drew Darbyshire
John Kear

Bradford coach John Kear wants his players to take on a Ben Stokes style of approach when they face Wakefield in the Challenge Cup.

The Bulls are 200/1 outsiders to life the Cup for the sixth time in their history but they knocked out Super League side Leeds in 2019 and Kear hopes they can have a good cup run this year.

He said: “We’ll come here with the mentality of Stokes at Headingley in the World Cup final.

“We’ll have a free hit and try to knock the ball over the boundary. We’ve nothing to lose.

“Being honest, we’re more likely to win the 1895 Cup than the Challenge Cup but this is magical, it always throws something up.

“There’s always a little story somewhere. Fortunately last year we were one of the stories and the win over Leeds set us up for the season.”

Trinity coach Chris Chester actually played under Kear when Hull lifted the Cup in 2005 and he worked alongside him at Wakefield in 2017.

Chester said: “We’ve known each other a helluva long time.

“I learned a lot from him as a player and certainly learnt a lot from him as a coach.”

Wakefield hope to bring back experienced pair Danny Brough and David Fifita for Friday’s game at Belle Vue.

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