AP - Hull coach Lee Radford has defended his decision to select drug-accused Australian Steve Michaels for Thursday's Super League clash with Leeds at the KC Stadium.
The 28-year-old utility back has been named just five days after being implicated in the cocaine scandal that has engulfed his former club Gold Coast Titans.
On Thursday, two of his former Gold Coast teammates, Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling, are expected to face a Gold Coast court on charges ranging from possession of a dangerous drug to supply.
Michaels, meanwhile, will take the field later that night on the other side of the world - despite the Queensland Crime Commission announcing last Friday that it had issued an arrest warrant for the former Brisbane Bronco as part of its investigation into drugs trafficking.
Radford says the club have received no communication from Australia.
"At the moment it is simply a report in a paper," Radford told a news conference at Hull's training ground.
"There has been no contact from the NRL, no contact from the Gold Coast, no contact from the Queensland Crime Commission, no contact from the authority over there, so at present it's a press report in the Courier Mail and, until that changes, then I think Steve could do with a game.
"We'll continue to put him up for selection unless something changes and puts a different light on the matter.
"If I was Steve then I could do with a game. I can only put myself in that position and I think that will be a good thing for him."
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