John Kear has been described as a coach who made players believe they could achieve the impossible following his death at the age of 71.
Kear, who masterminded one of the sport’s greatest shocks when his Sheffield Eagles side won the Challenge Cup in 1998, died suddenly on Sunday, a day after working as a commentator at this year’s final.
The Yorkshireman oversaw more than 700 games in a distinguished coaching career of close to 40 years, with his other successes including guiding Hull to Challenge Cup glory in 2005.
There were also spells in charge of Wakefield, Bradford, Widnes, Paris St Germain and Batley, among others, as well as international roles with England, Wales and France. Alongside coaching, from which he retired last year, he was a respected broadcaster and pundit.
Former Sheffield hooker Johnny Lawless, a key figure in the Wembley win over Wigan, told the Press Association: “I’m totally devastated. The biggest memory I have of John is obviously the win at Wembley in 1998, but he had a massive impact on, not just my career, but my life as well.
“How he managed people was like no other. I was just one of probably thousands of people who he touched within the game. He’s going to be greatly missed.
“Without John we would not have won the cup. He never took credit for it, like the gentleman he was, but he truly masterminded it.
“He put his arm around people and made you believe you could do stuff you probably doubted yourself. He had great attributes to get the best out of everyone.
“He was one of those coaches you’d do anything for, you’d run through a brick wall for him because he just knew how to treat you as a person first and foremost. He had that magic effect.
“He could make you play a little bit better, an extra 10 per cent here or one per cent there – John would get it out of you.”
Kear moved into coaching after a playing career as a winger with hometown Castleford, for whom he made 133 first-team appearances.
Castleford’s current director of rugby Chris Chester was in the Hull side that beat Leeds in the 2005 final in Cardiff and also worked under him at Wakefield.
Chester said: “He was an unbelievable coach. We had some great times together and he was a great mentor for me.
“I had a really close connection with him and he was an unbelievable friend as well. I learned a lot from him and the way he conducted himself.
“When I retired as a player, he made the effort to call me and wish me well and after I got the sack at Hull KR, he was one of the first to message me.
“I’ve just watched Saturday’s game to listen to his voice again. It’s a really sad day and he’ll be missed.”
Former Hull team-mate Paul Cooke wrote on X: “Rest in eternal peace boss. You gave me the greatest rugby league day of my life, for that I’m indebted to you forever!”
