Bradford Bulls: Kear hopes league's biggest pitch will suit

More than 3,000 tickets have already been sold for the clash with the Thunder at Kingston Park, kicking off the Super League’s Magic weekend in the city.

And Kear is banking on the wide open spaces of the largest playing surface in domestic rugby league playing into the hands of his side against a dangerous opponent.

He said: “The pitch is the biggest one in the league – and that includes Super League and ours. It’s also 4g so it’s a really quick track.

“For me, it should be ideal for us and how we play. Theoretically it should suit our game.”

Kear is looking for an improvement after the “frustrating” 54-16 win over London Skolars at Odsal last week.

Victory maintained their lead at the top of League One but the Bulls coach was unhappy to see them concede three tries for the first time since the opening day of the season.

“I thought our standards slipped,” he added.

“We’d been improving defensively and working really hard. I thought we let ourselves down.

“There were two tries on our line that were very soft in my opinion. That’s been one of the focuses in training this week.

“I didn’t feel we played to our capabilities and I was also upset with the three tip-tackles.

“I felt they weren’t dealt with as they should have been.

“We saw what happened in the Toronto game when there was a sin-binning. For me, it wasn’t as bad as any of the three in our game.

“I thought one of ours was a red and the others sin-binnings but obviously the views of the officials differed.

“So, it did make for a frustrating afternoon for me.”

Newcastle are currently tucked in mid-table with four wins from their eight games. But they are a tough proposition on home territory and Kear knows the Bulls must buck their ideas up.

He said: “Newcastle are a very good team, there’s no doubt about that.

“They only lost by 10 to York, they lost by two to Doncaster and they’ve pulled up some really good victories such as beating Hunslet.

“This is another game that will be putting League One on the map and it’s great to see.

“I’m certain the ground will be full and that will generate a magnificent atmosphere again. It’s another big game – but we’re used to it because that’s the case whenever Bradford play anybody in League One.”

Tonight’s attendance is set to be swelled by travelling Super League fans keen to get an early taste before the two days of solid action at St James’ Park over the weekend.

“You don’t need to be a brain surgeon to work out that’s why they’ve sent us up there on a Friday,” said Kear.

“They are hoping that anybody who gets up early for the weekend will get along to Newcastle Thunder before attending all the Magic fixtures.

“There will be neutrals – but there will obviously be a lot of Bradford fans as well. Newcastle have also been getting decent crowds, which is credit to them.

“I think it will be a great occasion but I just want us to play better.”