Ultimate underdog coach Kear's rugby league passion shone through

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Hull FC's win over Leeds in Cardiff in 2005 was the second time John Kear lifted the Challenge Cup as a coach By Dave Woods Former BBC Rugby league correspondent Published 3 hours ago "It's good night Vienna for Sheffield in Paris," was always one of John Kear's favourite commentary lines. The ground-breaking French side Paris St-Germain had just scored the winning try against Sheffield Eagles in the first ever Super League match in the French capital in 1996, in front of a roaring crowd. Delivered with a rising excitement and trademark chuckle, it captured his passion and excitement for rugby league. Those who were there will remember that was a night when an incredible optimism came to rugby league. It was a night of unbounded joy for those who wanted to see the game flourish and John was always at the vanguard of that movement. Rugby league's boundaries had been opened up, a huge French crowd had come to watch and John, part of the BBC radio commentary team, was loving it. Sadly, PSG RL proved to be a passing phenomenon, but John's passion for rugby league was a constant throughout his entire life, as a player, an incredible coach, and a much loved commentator. Positive force, without ego JK - as most knew him - was such a positive force. You were always delighted to be in his company. Along the way he collected so many friends and so many wonderful rugby league memories. He was a man without ego, who loved hearing about the success of others. His positivity and joyfulness glowed. Born and raised literally round the corner from Castleford's Wheldon Road, the game was in his soul from the beginning and he went on to play for his hometown team. 'Classy Cas' was always his first love. He trained as a teacher before joining the Rugby Football League in a player development role. But it was as a coach that he left his indelible mark. And what an incredible career that was. He was the ultimate underdog's coach. With Sheffield Eagles - two years after that night in Paris - he inspired the most famous of all Wembley wins against the mighty Wigan in 1998. It will always be labelled the greatest Challenge Cup final upset of all time. JK would tell you that he sensed his team would do something incredible that year, even before the cup competition began. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Sheffield Eagles' victory over Wigan at Wembley in 1998 was the first and only time the club have appeared in the Challenge Cup final In 2005 he oversaw an unfancied Hull FC victory in the cup final in Cardiff, scoring a pre-match psychological victory over opponents Leeds. In the build-up to the game rumours swirled that the Rhinos' strike centre Keith Senior would feature despite an injury. JK suspected mind games were at play. "If Keith's playing, I'll bring my boots as well," he laughed in a pre-final press conference. Senior did play, ineffectively because of the injury, and Hull scored a late and dramatic victory in