Bulldogs lock Reni Maitua has lost the chance to earn a first grade recall in Sunday's NRL match against the New Zealand Warriors after being ruled out with a rib injury.

Maitua was in line to play his first match since being dropped a fortnight ago after he was caught drinking in the early hours at an Oxford St nightclub.

He had been named on an extended bench for the trip to Auckland but coach Steve Folkes confirmed on Wednesday he would not travel due to injury.

Folkes again refused to comment on his own future after announcing on Monday he would leave the club at the end of the season.

But Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said the club hoped to have a new coach appointed for 2009 as soon as possible.

"It will be soon, we haven't put a time frame on it but sooner rather than later, hopefully over the next few weeks," Greenberg said.

Kevin Moore, Stephen Kearney, Mick Potter and Daniel Anderson are believed to be possible candidates for the Bulldogs job while Greenberg said several others have put their name forward in the last two days.

"We're wading through all of those things and we're going to make the best decision we can," Greenberg said.

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