The Kiwis hooker, who had started the match in Dunedin ahead of Issac Luke and was one of the best on field, felt his left shoulder pop out slightly as he attempted a tackle in the closing minutes of the game.
Leuluai was assessed by the Kiwis medical team and found to have what has been described as a partial shoulder dislocation. He flew to Auckland on Monday for additional tests with an orthopaedic surgeon, who confirmed the diagnosis.
Though the 33-test veteran desperately wanted to play, he realised that his shoulder probably wouldn't stand up to contact and could "go" within the first tackle he attempted. Leuluai, one of the most professional players in the game, was also wary of letting his teammates down. If the same injury occurred during an NRL season it would usually mean missing five to six games.
Leuluai will be hard to replace. He is a superb one-on-one tackler and adds real steel to the Kiwis' ruck defence. The Warriors utility is a senior leader within the Kiwis environment and one of the more vocal players on the field. His passing range from dummy half was superb in Brisbane and Dunedin, and a touch above what Luke or Brown offered.
Leuluai is also the "been there, done that" man, one of only a handful of current players who were involved in the 2008 World Cup final and the 2010 Four Nations final (Simon Mannering, Adam Blair and Greg Eastwood are the others).
The Kiwis have other injury concerns with Jason Nightingale (deep head cut), Dean Whare (foot) and Tohu Harris (shoulder - AC joint) but the trio are expected to play.
Kearney's main deliberations over the last few days would have centred on the backline, as the forward pack picks itself.
He's gambled on Manu Vatuvei, instead of the safer choice of Gerard Beale, who started in Brisbane.
Vatuvei still looks defensively vulnerable but gives the Kiwis a weapon in the air and close to the line, as well as a virtual extra forward coming out of their own territory.
Kearney may also have considered Josh Hoffman at fullback - the new Titans signing has always performed well against Australia and Peta Hiku has had some rash moments in the last two tests - but Hoffman hasn't played for almost two months.
Meanwhile, Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens has selected the same XIII that convincingly beat Samoa last Sunday. He has added Robbie Farah, Ryan Hoffman and Aidan Guerra to an extended seven-man bench.
3 things about the team
Major miss
The first time Thomas Leuluai has missed a major final since 2006.
Mannering's mark
Simon Mannering will play his 40th test on Saturday.
Durable Manu
Manu Vatuvei is the only survivor of the 2005 Tri-Nations final, won 24-0 by the Kiwis.
