VIDEO: Batley boss John Kear wins Championship Coach of the Year
The fact he beat off Neil Jukes, who guided Leigh Centurions to the League Leaders’ Shield and Super League promotion, illustrates how well Kear fared in 2016.
The veteran coach, on a comparative shoestring budget of just £150,000, steered the part-timers to third and a first-ever Qualifiers spot to face Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.
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Hide AdVoted by fellow coaches, it is a fitting honour as Kear now leaves following five years at Mount Pleasant. Leigh’s Micky Higham won Player of the Year, London Broncos’ James Cunningham is Young Player.