FOR the first time in his career, veteran Wakefield coach John Kear will not care about the result of a match involving his team when the Wildcats take on St Helens in the engage Super League tonight.

Wakefield are dedicating the match to the memory of 20-year-old forward Leon Walker, who collapsed and died during a reserve match last Sunday, and Kear says the occasion is more important than the outcome.

"I don’t know how the players will react and I don’t know how the Saints players will react either," he said.

"What I will say is that I’m not bothered about the result. The result is completely secondary to me.

"In my ideal scenario, we would have an immaculately-observed minute’s silence as a tribute to Leon with his mum and dad and close family out on the field.

"And then both teams would turn in an absolutely sensational game of rugby league where you’d see all the skills, the commitment and passion that makes this game great and which made Leon fall in love with the game.

"If we could have that, it would be a fitting tribute to Leon before he is laid to rest next week.

"To tell the truth if someone said we can win 2-0 and it’s an ugly win or we can go out there and it’s 32-30 and it’s been a celebration of a lad’s love of rugby league, that would do for me."

The Wakefield club were already dedicating the 2009 season to prop forward Adam Watene, who collapsed and died during a training session in October, and several players were due to undergo bereavement counselling yesterday afternoon.

"They are as well as can be expected," added Kear. "It’s been a really difficult week. It’s a very raw wound at the minute because it’s only four days since it happened.

"When we lost Adam you could focus upon grieving and come to terms with it over a period of time before you had to do the business of rugby league.

"We’ve got to attempt to come together collectively to try our best to play a good game of rugby league but it won’t be easy."

Kear paid tribute to the bravery of his players and singled out Australian half-back or hooker Sam Obst, who was in the gym when Watene suffered a heart attack and was playing alongside Walker in Maesteg last Sunday.

The former Whitehaven player has missed the club’s last two Super League matches with a hamstring injury but is keen to return against St Helens.

"Sam has been really good," said Kear. "He’s started to come to terms with it by being open and honest by expressing his feelings.

"He’s put his hand up to play and I’m full of admiration for him."

The League announced yesterday that, in addition to the minute’s silence that will be observed at all games this weekend, teams will walk out side by side for Super League and Championship matches.

St Helens coach Mick Potter admits the tragedy has cast a shadow over tonight’s match.

"It’s sad for the sport and terrible for the player’s family and everyone associated with the Wakefield club," he said.

"I think everyone will take the moment to pay their respects and I’m hoping everyone can get their mind on the game and move forward – not to forget but just remember how precious life is."