Daryl Powell pays homage to icon John Kear as Wakefield Trinity pre-match tribute plans confirmed

The rugby league family has spent most of the past week mourning and remembering the legendary John Kear but few clubs will have felt his loss more than Wakefield Trinity, who have confirmed a series of pre-match events to celebrate the life of their former coach.

After commentating on the Challenge Cup on Saturday, a competition that is so intrinsically linked to him given how he masterminded success for Sheffield Eagles and Hull FC before becoming a regular on commentary, John Kear sadly passed away on the Sunday as he returned home.

It’s shaken the rugby league world but it’s also allowed for some wonderful tributes with Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell the latest to offer words of sympathy and remembrance.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Powell admitted: “I think it’s obviously really difficult. There are quite a few of our boys who have been coached by John at different times during their careers.”

On his relationship with Kear, Powell explained: “Obviously, I knew him really well throughout my career, really. He coached me with the international teams and then, just latterly, he interviewed me every other week, every home game.

“I was absolutely devastated when I heard, Dave Woods rang me on Sunday night and told me. It’s really tough news. Obviously, 71 is pretty young, isn’t it?”

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Wakefield Trinity coach shares warm tribute to John Kear

Whilst Kear played at Castleford and won silverware with other clubs, his time at Wakefield and the incredible relegation battle he helped them survive is something that he’s remembered well for, so it’s no surprise that Trinity will celebrate him on Saturday when they host Hull KR.

It’s been confirmed that a minute’s silence will be held before the game whilst players who played under Kear, including Jason Demetriou and his Hull FC star Paul Cooke will be in attendance, with a short video also playing ahead of kick-off to pay respects.

Continuing to pay his own respects, Powell expressed surprise at how many people John Kear impacted: “Just how many people have spoken about John and what he was like as a character, as a person, as a player, obviously, as a coach. He did some pretty iconic things. As a person and then as a coach, you just have such a lot of admiration and respect for him and what he’s done and then still being involved with commentary.

“For a lot of people, it’s been tough to take. I text Dawn, his wife, the other day and just trying to pass on how we feel at the club, which is the same as everybody else. It’s a tough time.”

He insisted that it won’t be something that he sells the game on in terms of motivation, noting: “John meant different things to a lot of players. Not everybody would have known him like some of us do, so that’s different for some players.

“I think if you want to play in his spirit, for the players that did know him really well, if you can harness it, I think playing in the respect of John would be a great way to play.  I’m sure that quite a lot of us will grab hold of some of that in the lead-up to the game.

“I think the fans are going to pay their own respects. They remember John in such a positive way that it will have a great feel about it here for the game.”

In perhaps the finest way to surmise John Kear, Powell added: “He was just a great person to be around, to be honest. He’s a great personality, had a great sense of humour and just loved life, didn’t he? He loved being around rugby league and it’s tough to lose him so early.”