JOHN Kear feels the Bulls have put down an early marker for their Championship play-off credentials by beating Halifax.

Kear’s side opened 2019 with a 26-16 win at Odsal in the revamped Yorkshire Cup pre-season competition.

Kear was impressed by the performance against a side who have been a regular fixture in the Middle Eights.

He said: “People might have half-expected us to be competitive against York and come up with the right result. But Halifax have been a top-four team three of the last four years.

“We wanted to put a marker down and say we’re going to be up there competing for those play-off spots. I think the players did that.

“I’m also absolutely over the moon with the young men who have come in, Alix Stephenson, Josh Rickett and Olly Wilson – and Matty Storton is just unbelievable.

“I’m really pleased with us as a group and delighted with the young ones who are putting so much pressure on the more established players. I think that is showing in the performances.”

The Bulls now face Dewsbury on Saturday (5.30pm) at Odsal in the semi-finals. They also go to Huddersfield the next day for Michael Lawrence’s testimonial.

“I thought defensively we were really good and some of our attacking play was smart,” added Kear.

“We can say this was an eight out of 10 job but there are still things we can get better at.

“It was a good, solid work-out and both teams got something out of it. We certainly did because we’ve played really well against an elite Championship team.”

Teenage full back Stephenson played the entire game while Kear considers his options to cover Gregg McNally’s departure.

“The intention was to bring Pick (Brandon Pickersgill) on for the last 20 minutes but Joe Keyes got a bit of a back spasm so we left Alix out there.

“I’m sure if I ask to bring somebody in, the owner will say there’s no need to and be saving his money! He’ll certainly be delighted with Alix’s contribution as I am as well.

“It just goes to show if you give young men the opportunity, sometimes they take that and blossom. He’s certainly done well in both pre-season games but again the challenge will be that he’s got to maintain that.”