St George Illawarra have been struck a major blow with halves hopeful Drew Hutchison set to miss most of the 2017 NRL season with a serious knee injury.
Hutchison had been favoured to partner Gareth Widdop in the halves next year following Benji Marshall’s exit, however looks set to spend significant time on the sidelines after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
The club said he was set to miss a lion’s share of 2017 but he could be forced to miss the entire season.
He will require surgery after going down at training on Thursday in a big setback for Paul McGregor’s men.
“Drew had undertaken a simple ballwork drill and there was a collision amongst some of the players involved and, unfortunately, his foot got caught in the ground,” Dragons head of performance Nathan Pickworth said.
“With the forces that were applied to his body at the time, Drew’s knee got put into a vulnerable position which resulted in the ACL rupture.
“He has since undergone scans which have confirmed the injury and we have already spoken to a number of surgeons.”
The 21-year-old appeared destined set to wear the Dragons’ No.7 jersey after being used ahead of Marshall during this year’s second-last round of the regular season.
He was instrumental in guiding the Illawarra Cutters to the NSW Cup and Interstate Championship titles and, in October, spoke of his desire to step up to the NRL next year.
“To be honest, there’s little things in my game I need to work on and I’ll be working on that in the pre-season,” he said.
“I’m hoping for a big year in 2017 and it’s all up to me.”
It throws McGregor’s plans into disarray, with former Canberra player Josh McCrone and recuit Shaun Nona shaping as back-up options.
It’s the second injury blow for the Dragons in a fortnight after luckless prop Mose Masoe had undergone surgery on his right knee, ruling him out indefinitely.
Chook
Guest
Yes I agree. Frizall deserves the VC for staying in that team
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Direct Quote from Twitter: I'm quite comfortable at the moment and I'm sure the #dragons have the depth to cover the loss and win games in '17.
Jacko
Guest
Widdop should be dropped. He stops others developing and dominates the style of play coming from the halves
Jacko
Guest
He said live on Foxtel he would be interested.
Jacko
Guest
I think putting all your halves hope in one person and not having quality backup is a fatal mistake which has now come back to haunt the Dragons big time. They now have no proven 1st graders anywhere in their squad and have lost the ONE hopeful they had
Charles NSW
Guest
It is not the start of the season and yet there is so much doom and gloom already It is the coach who has to rectify what is in front of him and he has a lot to do There are a number of problems facing him but mainly it is the spine of hooker, 1/2 back, 5/8 eigth and fullback He has time to consider the best players to fill into these roles but may need time to adjust accordingly He knows Josh Dugan will not give him from what he requires to be the fullback position This is the first position I would be looking at with Gareth Widdop worthy of consideration This will take him from the halves so he needs to look how he can replace him if he takes on the fullback role I do not think buying in players that have been a problem is an answer unless there is no other choice The Dragons has been very poor in the halves department, it should have been rectified a long time ago Jamie Soward I have a lot of time for but as I understand it he does not get on with coaches and players very well
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Jamie Soward also tweeted he has no interest and is enjoying retirement
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
This mornings' news is that Jamie Soward has thrown his hat in the ring. The Dragons have two choices if they care to play finals football in 2017. Carney or Hastings.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I'm hoping they give Nona a chance. Saw a bit of him when he was at the Storm, definitely got skills. Big blow for the Dragons though, one they did not need.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
How's his kicking game?
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Mate, I wish I could throw you and a few fellow Roarers into key management positions to steer the rudder for a while. A coach who claims he's no longer involved in the retention or selection of his squad is an onerous warning sign that the ship's lost at sea.
andrew
Guest
He played off the bench quite a lot for the Cutters. I watched him a bit and often thought he deserved to be starting in the NSW Cup, but I never thought he was NRL material. End of the day a team with Hutchinson or Nona in the halves was never making the top 8.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Really disappointed for Hutchinson. Thought he was going to have a big year. Think Mann will line up in the halves now.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Dean - I know I've given the Dragons a bit of grief over the past 12 months but I really feel for guys like you and Ken W. For your sake - I hope they can come up with a good option and give you a bit of hope for the season ahead.
LachyP
Guest
This is a big setback unless they get a quality replacement but they aren't going to get the spoon. The Knights are still going to be too inexperienced to compete with the current competition.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
The word that I heard was that Pearce and Hastings were having major dramas working together. Not sure about the rest of the Roosters though. Hastings was linked in July to return to The Dragons. Sometimes opportunity knocks more than once.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Word is that JAckson Hastings is impossible to work with and just pure plain arrogance and that is why no one will touch him.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Managements refusal to sign Carney or Hastings in light of The Dragons latest setback is mind-boggling. Another injury and Luciano Leilua will become the largest halfback that the world has ever seen. Pride goes before a fall, and the Dragons have backed themselves onto the edge of a steep precipice. A contingency plan should always be in place to adequately cover the roles of play makers when injury strikes. The Dragons have been the worst attacking team over the past two seasons, and are now going to rely on their third choice for halfback. Management needs to be shown the door, and quickly. They are proving incapable of doing what's best for the club, and are being unduly influenced by the gossip columnists. Fans will vote with their feet as The Dragons continue to display their lacklustre attack.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
1. MacDonald (VC) 2. Mann 3. Aitken 4. Dugan 5. Milne 6. Widdop 7. Dufty 8. Ah Mau 9. McInnes 10. Vaughan 11. Frizell (C) 12. Thompson 13. JDB 14. Sims 15. Masoe (Host if Masoe out injured) 16. Packer 17. Leilua
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Nona was with the Cutters last year, and had signed with the Blackhawks for 2017, but he was able to get a release when he signed iwth the dragons. Hes 26 so he mature age, a bit like Cody Walkz