Kear: We are in control of our own fate

Batley Bulldogs are currently fourth in the Kingstone Press Championship and have a good chance of qualifying for the Middle 8s, but coach John Kear insists they must stay focused until the last match.

Kear has praised the work the team has done up to this point.

“I am delighted with what we have turned so far,” he told Love Rugby League.

“We have also had a good Challenge Cup run which has brought extra revenue into the club.

“I would say it’s been an 8 or 9 out of 10 season so far but there is still room for improvement and a third of the season to go.

“The real positive is that it’s in our hands so I am very happy. It’s all you can ask for.”

At the minute the Bulldogs will be facing the current Super League champions Leeds Rhinos in the Qualifiers, which doesn’t surprise Kear.

“I think it has been a really good, topsy-turvy season. Next season both they could be challenging at the top again.

“We have supposedly wanted a competition like the NRL for ages where a different team is challenging for the title each season and this is what we have got.”

The race to make the Middle 8s is still being contested by six teams with just three matches of the regular season left which reflects the standard of the competition, according to Kear.

“I think it shows that anybody can beat anybody in the Championship. Fixtures which you thought one team would definitely have won have been produced a different result time and time again.

“Every other side has produced shocks throughout the course of the season, it’s been a fascinating competition.”