Ultimate underdog coach Kear's rugby league passion shone through

Ultimate underdog coach Kear's rugby league passion shone throughImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Hull FC's win over Leeds in Cardiff in 2005 was the second time John Kear lifted the Challenge Cup as a coach ByDave WoodsFormer BBC Rugby league correspondentPublished8 minutes agoComments"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 egoJK - 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...