Michaels facing uncertain future

RUGBY LEAGUE: Steve Michaels insists there will be no hard feelings when he leaves Challenge Cup winners Hull FC at the end of the season.

The 29-year-old Australian winger has been a permanent fixture for Lee Radford’s side in their best-ever season of Super League but is out of contract and has not been offered a new deal.

Michaels was in the side that ended the club’s long wait for a Wembley victory on Saturday and is hoping to help them achieve another first by maintaining their lead at the top of Super League, starting with Friday’s top-four clash at St Helens, which will help take his mind off an uncertain future.

“Honestly I’ve got no idea about what’s going to happen,” he said. “It was getting to me a little bit, thinking about it, but I’ve got this focus on finishing the year off well.

“Winning at Wembley was my goal, my focus was definitely to win a trophy, and hopefully I’ll have a crack at another one.

“There’s no bitter feelings about leaving. They’ve got some young guys like Curtis Naughton and Callum Lancaster so there’s no disappointment at all. I’ve some fond memories of Hull.”

Warrington are counting the cost of their Cup final defeat, with both half-backs Kurt Gidley and Chris Sandow and England forward Ben Westwood ruled out of Saturday’s Super League match against Catalans Dragons.

St Helens have released former Hull KR stand-off Travis Burns, who will join Brisbane club Wynnum Manly Seagulls next season.