Michael Ennis has officially played his final game for Canterbury after failing a fitness test on his injured foot ahead of Sunday's NRL grand final.
Despite being named in the side on Tuesday, the Bulldogs skipper has maintained all week that he was at long odds to play after fracturing his foot in the preliminary final win over Penrith last week.
However, there was speculation on Friday the former NSW hooker's injury wasn't as bad as initially thought and he'd lead his side out against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
But coach Des Hasler confirmed the 30-year-old, who moves to Cronulla next season, simply wasn't in a position to play in such a huge game.
"We looked at him this morning but he couldn't get any power or push off it," Hasler told Triple M.
"But in a game like this you want to exhaust every opportunity.
"He's unbelievably disappointed as you would expect ... but in his own mind it was always going to be difficult.
"It's very unfortunate, the players hold him high regard but he'll be involved tomorrow."
Young playmaker Moses Mbye is in pole position to fill in at hooker but Hasler refused to divulge which was way he was leaning, with veteran forward Reni Maitua and young rake Damien Cook also in contention.
"It's yet to be decided," he said.
"I am going to sleep on it for a while."
Former England skipper James Graham and halfback Trent Hodkinson will be co-captains for the match.
Graham will become the first Englishman since Tommy Bishop of Cronulla in 1973 to skipper a team in a grand final.
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