BULLS’ head coach John Kear has admitted he is “very excited” ahead of Monday’s decision on whether the club will be playing in Super League or not next season.

But he believes all six clubs who have put their names forward, Featherstone, Leigh, London Broncos, Toulouse and York being the others, have every chance of being chosen.

If Bradford do stay in the Championship, Kear said his side would look forward to taking on a “competitive” Newcastle Thunder side, who were selected by an independent panel to join the second tier on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Kear also lauded Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield for raising around £2.5m for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) by running seven marathons in seven days in honour of ex-teammate and best friend Rob Burrow, reserving high praise for Bulls’ biggest rivals.

Bradford may be joining Leeds in the top flight by Monday, but Kear said: “The fact we had to do an inventory, looking at how to improve further on our strengths and counter our weaknesses meant it was a really good process, whether we’re successful or not.

“I am very excited, as I would love us to be in Super League, but I think all six teams have things in their favour.

“We have to trust the process and trust the correct decision will be made to benefit the short, medium and long-term future of Super League. We’re at ease with whatever is decided.”

Talking about how the players feel, Kear said: “We’ve kept them informed of the process and the key dates.

“But we’ve blanked any other talk about it, as we don’t want them feeling down if it doesn’t go our way.

“For now, we’re getting on with training and it’s going well.

“We’re pleased too, because we’ve not had one transmission of Covid, which shows we’ve done it all right.

“We’re getting excited for the new season, and hopefully getting to play in front of fans.”

Two of those games next year will take place against Newcastle if Bulls remain in the Championship.

Kear is delighted to see another step in the right direction for rugby league in the North East, saying: “When I was at Sheffield, we’d brought Chris Thorman down from Tyneside at 16, and he went on to have a great career in Super League and a season in the NRL, now he’s coaching at Workington.

“There’s always been potential for rugby league to grow outside of the traditional areas, and the North East is full of tough, hard-working lads who are nailed on for rugby league.

“It’s a thriving area, you just need to look at Magic Weekend up at St James’ Park or the fact there’ll be World Cup games there next year.

“I know (Thunder’s director of rugby) Denis Betts well, and it’s a good project Newcastle have got there.

“Their long-term goal is to be Super League champions by 2030, and I’m sure they can achieve that. They’ll be competitive in the Championship next year.”

Bulls may of course be playing the likes of Leeds next season instead.

Their director of rugby is Sinfield and discussing his charity work, Kear said: “We’ve demonstrated to the world in the past that there’s good people involved in rugby league, and Kevin Sinfield epitomises that.

“He’s been very selfless and never made this about him, it’s been all about Rob and the MNDA.

“The way Kev’s carried himself throughout, it just shows how we all look after each other.”

Kear was keen to praise Leeds beyond Sinfield too, saying: “I know there’s a big rivalry between Leeds and Bradford, but I want Bulls to display as much class as the Rhinos, because they always show it, whether that be for Rob and Jamie Jones-Buchanan’s benefit match back in January or the stadium redevelopments at Headingley.

“We want them to be our template and if I can help establish us as a Super League club with even half of their class, I’ll have done a good job.”