Drew Hutchison believes St George Illawarra don't need go to the player market for a halfback for next season and that he is ready to step into the role of departing playmaker Benji Marshall.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor dropped Marshall for Monday night's loss against Parramatta to hand Hutchison his first NRL game of the season and just the fourth of his career. But, as promised, Marshall has been recalled for the final-round clash with Newcastle in what will be his final appearance in the Red V. It could also be last NRL appearance for the former Golden Boot winner, who is off contract and struggling to find a club for next season.
Hutchison was solid playing behind a well-beaten pack, scoring a try, making 25 tackles and taking charge of the side's kicking game. The 21 year old now believes he is ready to replace Marshall on a fulltime basis by becoming the starting halfback for the Dragons' 2017 campaign.
"That's exactly right. The club hasn't signed a half for next year and I hope they don't," Hutchison said.
"Hopefully I can be the starting No.7 next year.
"Criticism of the attack is probably warranted, we haven't scored enough points this year. Personally I think my game is very straight and I suppose I am a bigger body so my running game is a bit more of a threat.
"I hope I can help with the team's attack next year."
Hutchison said he was disappointed his call up came at the expense of Marshall, someone he had looked up to while he was coming through the grades.
"When the team was first named I felt a bit sad," he said. "He's been one of my idols growing up and he came up to me and gave me a pat on the shoulder, saying there were no hard feelings and he was looking to help me through this week.
"He definitely did that and made it easy for me to go out there and play my own game.
"Not only is he a good player, but he's one of the best blokes in our team. The main thing he's helped me is that he's a good man to go to, you can always lean on him for advice. It's not only the footy side of things where he is good, it's off the field with everyday life that he's good as well."
Hutchison will go from partaking in the historic last game at Pirtek Stadium to going back to reserve grade for feeder side Illawarra Cutters. The Albion Park junior said he had no qualms knowing he would be dropped regardless of how well he played.
"I don't think it was tough, it's actually pretty easy to get your head around," he said.
"You've got 80 minutes to put your best foot forward, you've got nothing to lose really.
"We can't make semis, so you can chance your arm a bit more. Being told you've got 80 minutes to do your best, you leave it all on the line."
The Dragons, having missed out on the signatures of Lachlan Coote, Luke Keary and Corey Norman, must now decide whether to continue scouring the market or look for an in-house solution. League Immortal Andrew Johns described Hutchison as a "steady player", adding he looks more like a backrower than a halfback.
Hutchison said he was preparing for a big preseason to ensure he would be McGregor's first choice to partner Widdop.
"Absolutely. I genuinely hope that's the case and I'll be training very hard in the preseason to do that," he said.
"Obviously there are other good players at the club that can play in the halves and I'll be trying my best to stay there and play with Gareth next year."
