John Kear challenges players ahead of Halifax clash

Bradford Head Coach John Kear has challenged his players to prove to him they deserve a spot in the first team during their match against Halifax.

The Bulls welcome Halifax to Odsal on Boxing Day, as preparations for the 2022 season get underway.

Kear has revealed several of his off-season signings could make their debuts at some point on Sunday. The Bulls have signed Kieran Gill, Ryan Millar, Dec Patton, Jordan Baldwinson, Samy Kibula, Corey Johnson, Jarrod O’Connor and Muizz Mustapha ahead of the new season.

Bradford’s other pre-season games include facing Batley, Hull FC and Leeds. The match against Hull is a testimonial match for Danny Brough, who retired in the off-season on medical advice.

After that, they start their Championship campaign against Dewsbury at the end of January at the Tetley’s Stadium.

Kear looking forward to Halifax match

In an interview with the club website, Kear said:  “I am really looking forward to Boxing Day, and I am really happy with how things have gone so far.

“Halifax are a good team, they have spent some brass that’s for certain with some of the calibre of signings they’ve made. They were a very good team who will be even better next year but we are as well.

“There will be no let up in training this week either. We are looking at Sunday being a very structured and intense pre-season trial game and I am certain we will get a lot out of it with players putting their hands up for a starting spot against Dewsbury in Round One.

“There’ll be quite a number of debutants but this is just for them to say to me I want to play in Round One, that is what everything we do now is geared towards.”

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