Canterbury will insist Mormon NRL star Will Hopoate agrees to play Sunday matches if they re-sign him, after successfully requesting he do so for the rest of this season.
Currently seeking a new deal for next season, fullback Hopoate has agreed to forgo the arrangement made when he arrived last year that allowed him to opt out of Sunday matches for religious reasons.
It comes with the eight-placed Bulldogs facing three Sunday matches in coming rounds, including Sunday's clash with the third-placed Sydney Roosters.
"In a perfect world I wouldn't play," said Hopoate, who told teammates of the change on Monday.
"It's something I've been churning over quite a bit in my heart and mind. Obviously I would love not to.
"But at the same time I have a duty to my employers and that's the Canterbury Bulldogs at the moment."
Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle confirmed the club would not allow a "no Sundays" clause again.
"If we're going to sign Will to a new contract next year, that would need to include playing Sundays," Castle said.
"As we got into the season and as Will has gone into a new negotiating period for a new contract, we felt that it was fair for both sides of that negotiation to have him available playing Sundays."
Hopoate quit the NRL for two years when established with Manly in order to go on a Mormon mission in 2012 and 2013 before returning with Parramatta in 2014.
He said he understood the Bulldogs' stance, but didn't shy away from admitting he would listen to possible offers from rival clubs that allowed him to observe his day of rest.
"I'd definitely take that into consideration for sure," Hopoate said.
He will continue to not train on Sundays.
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