JOHN Kear will continue to remind the Bulls that defensive dominance is the key to success.

His side boasted the best record in League One, conceding only 282 points from their 26 games.

They then followed up by shutting out Oldham in the play-offs and restricting Workington to just one try in last week’s win in the final.

Kear watched Wigan maintain a similar stranglehold on Warrington to win Saturday’s Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, when the Wolves crossed over only once despite seeing plenty of the ball.

That underlined the philosophy he has been drilling into his players since arriving at Odsal 10 months ago.

Kear said: “Defences bring success. You look at Wigan, they played a semi-final and a final and conceded one try – the same as us.

“We all love to see spectacular tries etc but if you’ve got a work ethic, commitment, structure and technique to defend well then you’re halfway there regardless of what you do with the ball.

“It’s a philosophy most coaches have and one that I think more fans are buying into as well and appreciating.”

The Bulls enjoyed a series of blow-out victories on their way to promotion back to the Championship. They topped the half-century mark on 13 occasions.

But it was how tough they were to score against that most impressed the head coach – something he will drum in again when the squad reassemble for pre-season next month.

He added: “It was an average of 10.85 points a game – that’s basically two tries. You give yourself a great chance if you keep it to that.

“Obviously again, like Wigan, we conceded only one try in two play-off games.

“We feel as if we’ve got our defence in order. But obviously from a Bradford perspective we’ll be tested even more next year because the attacking teams will be a level up.

“I sold it this year to the players on the basis of how Australia won the World Cup. But New Zealand sorted that one out for me!

“But now we can sell it on what Wigan and ourselves achieved this year.

“In all honestly, because we’re going to retain so many from this year that belief and philosophy will remain very strong and intact.”