NOBODY can stop Toronto winning the Championship play-offs.

That’s the view of John Kear, whose Bulls side went as close as any to causing a shock against the all-conquering Wolfpack at Odsal in August.

Bradford led the league winners 18-4 at half-time – only for Brian McDermott’s men to roll off a salvo of tries at the start of the second half to take the spoils 25-20.

Toronto open up in Canada this weekend against Toulouse – the only side to beat them in the regular season.

But Kear cannot see a repeat as the favourites aim to make up for last year’s final defeat to London.

He said: “I think Toronto have learned a lesson after that. They are a much better team, not necessarily the individuals but as a unit.

“Jon Wilkin will be very important with his experience and ability to handle pressure. I also think they’ve got a coach who’s been there, seen it done it and won big games.

“They are a vastly different proposition to what they were 12 months ago.”

Kear felt his side’s first-half performance at home to Toronto was their best of the season. But they could not live with the visitors straight after the break.

He added: “I thought we were magnificent that day. It showed the level they are at that we performed so well and they were still able to beat us.

“Take a leaf from our book but, by God, you’ll have to do it for 80 minutes.

“You can’t have a 10 or 15-minute period when you are just off colour because they’ll rack up three or four tries. Then they’ll just grind you down.”

York and Featherstone make up the final four but Kear cannot see Toronto tripping up – and believes they already have a team Super League ready.

“Very much so,” he added. “I was asked to nominate coach of the year, player and young player and my three top players all came from Toronto. That’s how good I think they are.

“They’ll play knock-out rugby. That’s a lot different to the fancy-dan 40 points to nil stuff that they put on.

“Their sleeves will be rolled up, they’ll get in and amongst the muck and nettles and they’ll be happy to grind wins out. I think they’ll be successful because of that mental approach.”