Dungowan beat the previously unbeaten Kootingal 28-10 in a grand final boilover.

The Cowboys were underdogs but turned a 10-8 half time deficit into an 18 point win.

Canterbury Bulldogs go into Sunday’s NRL grand final in a similar position.

They’ve come from outside the top four to make the grand final against a side who has been dominant over the last month.

And Canterbury are set to put faith in eight-game rookie Moses Mbye to fill the boots of Michael Ennis at hooker for Sunday’s grand final against South Sydney.

For an exciting young talent compared to Johnathan Thurston, Mbye’s unexpected grand final debut is likely to arrive in eerily similar fashion to when the now North Queensland Dally M winner came in as an injury replacement for the Bulldogs’ 2004 premiership win.

A fresh-faced Thurston was blooded on the bench when Canterbury captain Steve Price was ruled out against the Sydney Roosters.

Now with another departing skipper Ennis fighting a losing battle to recover from two fractured bones in his foot, 21-year-old Mbye is expected to follow in Thurston’s footsteps and be thrown in the deep end on league’s biggest day.

Star five-eighth Josh Reynolds revealed Mbye, named on extended bench, was foremost in coach Des Hasler’s thinking due to his strong defensive ability in the middle of the field.

Reynolds confirmed he himself would spend time at dummy-half throughout the grand final to relieve his inexperienced teammate, but said Mbye was likely to take on the brunt of the responsibility.

“I’m pretty sure Moses might get the nod and I’m excited for him, he’s a great kid,” said Reynolds.

“I think he can adapt. He’s a little rock.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if Des does put him there and I’d have total faith in him because he’s a great defender and he’s really quick off the mark. He can get us on the front foot as well.

“I don’t think I’ll start (at hooker) but I’d definitely jump in there at some stage.” As expected, Ennis has been named at No.9, but on Tuesday he told reporters he’d need a miracle to recover from two fractured bones in his foot in time to take part.

South Sydney have made one change from the side which battered the Sydney Roosters in the preliminary final, with back rower Ben Te’o rewarded for a blockbusting performance by being promoted to the starting side in place of the benched Kyle Turner.

SOUTH SYDNEY

 Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker, Kirisome Auva’a, Lote Tuqiri, Luke Keary, Adam Reynolds, George Burgess, Issac Luke, Dave Tyrrell, Ben Te’o, John Sutton (capt), Sam Burgess. Interchange: Jason Clark, Kyle Turner, Chris McQueen, Thomas Burgess, Ben Lowe, Luke Burgess, Bryson Goodwin

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

Sam Perrett, Corey Thompson, Josh Morris, Tim Lafai, Mitch Brown, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis (capt), James Graham, Josh Jackson, Tony Williams, Greg Eastwood, Interchange: Tim Browne, Dale Finucane, David Klemmer, Frank Pritchard, Moses Mbye, Reni Maitua

GROUP 4 SECOND DIVISION GRAND FINAL

Kootingal Oval - Saturday September 20

DUNGOWAN 28 (Scott Henry 2, Ethan Sherlock, Mitch Brown, Josh Steel tries, Brock Morgan 4gls) d KOOTINGAL 10 (Matthew McCulloch, Ben Williams tries, Paul Ford gl. Player of the Match: Matt Wilson