Batley Bulldogs: John Kear determined to see Batley thrive

With 12 matches played, Bulldogs are sixth in the Kingstone Press Championship, just a point outside the top-four and a place in the Qualifiers when the competition splits after 23 rounds.

Kear will leave Batley at the end of the season to rejoin Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in a head of rugby role and he said a top-four spot would be an ideal parting gift to the club.

“The higher we finish, the more money we get,” he said.

“I want to leave the club in a really sound financial situation and also with the ability to invest in further quality players.

“I am driven to make sure we finish as high as we possibly can.

“A great achievement would be if we can finish fourth, but we are aiming as high as we can.”

Bulldogs came through last Friday’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup defeat by Catalans Dragons with no major new injury concerns.

And Kear, whose team play host to fifth-placed Halifax on Sunday, said: “I was really pleased with them. I was proud of their effort and commitment. We got physically dominated, ultimately, but that is no disgrace when you are playing a team like Catalans.”