JOHN Kear has blasted journalists using “a cheap headline” after Bulls star Jordan Lilley had to dig himself out of a hole earlier this week.

A widely-read report claimed Lilley had signed a new two-year deal with Bradford, only for the bemused scrum-half to have to categorically deny that was not the case.

And Kear fumed: “It irritates me that journalists put stories out without thinking sometimes.

“Jordan had his family asking him why he hadn’t told them, when he’d not done anything.

“Journalists don’t realise it sometimes, when they’re putting a cheap headline out there, that they’re having no thought about the impact on the people involved.”

Asked if tying the likes of Lilley down was the priority, rather than making new signings for 2022, Kear said: “We’re just trying to assemble a squad for next year, which is part of our development as a team.

“We’re speaking to our own players about new contracts, but we’re also in discussions with players at other clubs too.”

If the false Lilley report raised Kear’s ire, he is not much happier with Sheffield Eagles either.

They were forced to call off their game with Bulls at Odsal due to Covid problems, but are reluctant to replay the fixture at a later date.

Kear said: “It’s very disappointing. I know they’re citing player welfare and the fact they’re part-time, which means travelling after work, but we’re 30 miles up the road.

“I’d understand them being against a midweek game if it was at Whitehaven or London, but it’s not.

“We feel we’ve got a duty to the competition to play as many games as we can, and also to our supporters, who’ve paid good money for season tickets.

“Now we’re having to rely on the RFL to help us out in this situation.”