The 20-Test Kiwi international is fighting to save his NRL career after police allegedly caught him with 0.46 grams of cocaine at Sydney’s Ivy nightclub when out with fellow players last week.

The Roosters outside back was poised to join Newcastle next year, but the Knights have gone cold on him since his arrest at 1am on Friday.

The 29-year-old will face Downing Centre Local Court on June 21, and his place in the Roosters team to face Parramatta this weekend is uncertain.

News Corp reported on Monday that Kenny-Dowall had denied using cocaine in a letter from his lawyers to the NRL integrity unit and offered to take a hair test which can trace cocaine use in the previous 90 days.

The letter reads: “My client has been subjected to many random tests in his substantial playing career. He has never broken the rules in this area of chemicals or prohibited substances.

“After he was arrested my client immediately volunteered for and underwent a medical test of his urine.

“He also sought a blood test, but the facility was not available at the clinic at that time of morning. He denies using the drug cocaine or any illegal drug or medication.

“My client invites the NRL to arrange any test immediately they desire to establish the state of any drugs that may be in an illegal drug user’s system. We have explained to Shaun Kenny-Dowall that a hair follicle test would show whether he has used cocaine.”

The letter does not explain why Kenny-Dowall was allegedly in possession of cocaine.

Off contract with the Roosters at the end of this season, Kenny-Dowall had been in discussions with the Knights and met with coach Nathan Brown at a restaurant in The Junction last month.

The Knights were understood to be only days away from tabling a three-year proposal. But the Newcastle Herald reported on Saturday that those talks had been put on hold until the drug matter was finalised in court and they were unlikely to pursue him unless he was cleared.