JOHN Kear described his first year at the Bulls as an “eight out of 10” as he celebrates his anniversary in the job today.

The 64-year-old has double reason to toast 2018 after steering the club to promotion as well as qualifying for the next World Cup with Wales.

Twelve months on from accepting the challenge of resurrecting the Bulls, Kear admits his first year could not have gone much better.

“I can’t grumble whatsoever with what 2018 has thrown at me,” he said.

“We’d have liked to have been champions but, in all honesty, the way we were promoted by winning the play-off final swells the tide of enthusiasm.

“Even that, I feel that was done the right way. I don’t want to be disrespectful to League One but the sole job was to get out of it and we did that.

“The other big positives were the re-establishment of our junior teams and the continual progress of our young players. We’ve also grown off the field as well as on it.

“I’d give it an eight out of 10 for the year. When it comes to New Year’s Eve, I shall certainly have a brandy and enjoy it.”

The vastly-experienced coach knew the size of the challenge he took on last December with the iconic club at their lowest ebb preparing to drop down to the third tier for the first time.

Kear is thrilled to see the transformation at Odsal over that period.

He added: “It’s been a massive flip. From people really being in despair at where the club was going and not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel, all of a sudden there’s a glaring light staring down at them.

“We know where we need to go and how we need to do that and the club’s very stable.

“I’ve used the phrase on numerous occasions that it is sustainable progression.

“That’s certainly what we’ve had in year one and I’d like to think that’s what we’ll achieve in 2019.

“It’s evolution rather than revolution. You do need to ensure it’s not just about the here and now but the mid-term and long term.

“I’m really confident that everything we’re doing off the field from a performance point of view has got that big picture in mind.

“I’m very certain as well that the administrator and the owner are doing similarly so with regards to the club away from the playing field.”

Kear is contracted for two more seasons but is already looking beyond that as he looks to continue his role in restoring the Bulls back to Super League.

“It’s exciting. Yes, it’s a tough job and people needed their passion and positivity reignited.

“But all of that’s happened and it’s a really exciting place to be.

“I’m just really looking forward not only to this year but the next few.

“So long as they want me past my three-year deal because it’s a great project.

“We’re having great results and doing it with great relish as well.”

Meanwhile, Kear, who led Sheffield Eagles to one of the biggest shocks in Challenge Cup history when they defeated Wigan Warriors in 1998, will be joined by Leeds Rhinos Women’s captain Lois Forsell to conduct the 2019 Challenge Cup first round draw.

Former Bulls player Forsell led her side to Women’s Challenge Cup final victory against Castleford Tigers earlier this year – one of two trophies Leeds Rhinos Women lifted in their first year since formation.

The draw, which will be held before the second international between England Academy and Australia Schoolboys at Emerald Headingley Stadium, will be streamed live on the BBC Sport website at 5.30pm on Friday. 

Fifty-two sides from across the community game will go in to the draw to participate in one of the country’s oldest sporting tournaments with the first round of the 2019 Challenge Cup set to be played over the weekend of January 26-27.

Among the draw will be Bradford Dudley Hill and West Bowling, with their numbers being six and 47 respectively.