After years of being the Sydney Roosters' Mr Fix It, Drew Hutchison has his sights set on ousting Toby Sexton and finally establishing himself as a starting NRL halfback at Canterbury.
Hutchison, 28, has played 75 NRL games, but fewer than half of them have come in his preferred position as a No. 7 or five-eighth.
By his own admission, Hutchison was happy to plug gaps wherever needed for Roosters coach Trent Robinson, featuring at hooker, in the centres and as a utility during his time in Bondi.
But the chance to move to Belmore on a two-year deal was not with a view to continuing that trend, but rather to be the on-field general Cameron Ciraldo's side desperately needs.
"The role of being a utility got put on me a few years ago and I just said 'yes', I wanted to add value to the team at the time," Hutchison told AAP.
"I would put my hand up whatever was needed.
"This is a team sport and you've got to be ready to play anywhere, and I enjoyed being someone the team could rely on.
"I grew up playing in the halves, and that was one of the main drawcards in coming to this club.
"As I've gotten older I've started to understand what I can bring to a team, and I think I can transfer that here at the Bulldogs.
"The decision for me was to be the guy who fixes things, or to challenge myself and aim to develop.
"When I thought about it, that's where my thinking was at."
Hutchison will likely partner Matt Burton in the halves if Ciraldo plumps for an experienced hand.
But Sexton is his closest challenger after moving to Belmore from the Gold Coast Titans midway through last year.
The 22-year-old wore some bruises in his maiden Bulldogs campaign, but says he knows he has more to prove to Ciraldo.
"I've never been this excited about playing footy in 2024," Sexton said.
"Everyone knows that no position is cemented, and that's making you want to fight for your position.
"I'm still finding my way in the NRL, I am basically a rookie at this stage.
"But I've got a lot of good people around me and I'm working really hard this pre-season to get all the little things in my game right.
"I can set myself up for a really good 2024."
