Elliot Kear and London Broncos have gone from expected whipping boys to instilling relegation fear into half of Super League.
The promoted capital club entertain Hull KR on Thursday on the back of head-turning victories over St Helens and at Catalans Dragons.
That has made it six wins in total for Danny Ward’s side - and means that just four points separate the bottom seven clubs in the competition.
Wakefield boss Chris Chester has admitted that his team - which finished fifth the last two years - has now been dragged into a relegation scrap.
And Welsh three-quarter Kear and his team-mates have no intention of easing the growing pressure on those around them.
Kear said: “There’s a lot more pressure on the other teams than there is on us.
“If we can keep playing as well as we have been doing then it’s going to be down to other sides to try and come down here and get a win or stop us at their place.
“At the start of the season some people were saying that we wouldn’t win a game so we’ve already proved a lot of critics wrong.
“We know that on our day we can beat any team and we’ve shown that this year.
“After the St Helens game we took the mindset that the last 13 games we’ll treat each one as a final.
“We’re probably not going to win 13 out of 13 but going into them with that mindset can only be a good thing.”
Kear - who hails from the same Cardiff high school as Gareth Bale, Sam Warburton and Geraint Thomas - credits coach Danny Ward and his assistant Jamie Langley with the Broncos togetherness that is defying the odds.
Kear said: “They’ve not been long retired themselves so there’s no mind games - they’re up front with you and tell you how it is.
“As a player that’s what you need and I think them treating us like that has helped us perform.
“They’re laid back people who bounce off each other, and they’ve got a good rapport with the players.”
Kear insists that Thursday’s clash between the bottom two won’t settle any relegation issues yet, and is expecting a improved Robins side under new coach Tony Smith.
Kear added: “They will still be in that honeymoon period where they’re looking to impress him.
“But we’re equipped to deal with it and there won’t be any shocks for us.
“There’s still a lot more rugby to be played after the game, it won’t be won or lost on this.
“But it will certainly help if we can get the points - if we can keep the same mindset and consistency we’ve had then we shouldn’t have a problem staying up.”
