NRL 2024: Bulldogs recruit Drew Hutchison opens up on strict diet as halfback battle heats up

Canterbury recruit Drew Hutchison has opened up on the pre-season diet that seen him shed the kilograms, as he looks to win the Bulldogs’ No.7 jersey.

Drew Hutchison has shed the kilograms, now he wants to dump the utility tag.

A strict pre-season diet has helped Canterbury’s Hutchison drop weight the new recruit is banking on being the key to winning the halfback spot at the Bulldogs.

While Matt Burton is expected to wear the No.6 jumper, despite some calls his best position is at centre, coach Cameron Ciraldo’s choice at halfback is less clear.

Hutichson, who was mostly used as a utility at the Sydney Roosters, has been in a pre-season halfback duel to edge out the likes of Toby Sexton, Blake Taaffe, Kurt Mann and Jaeman Salmon for a spot in the halves in round 1.

Hutchison, whose playing weight last year was listed at 97kg, revealed the main reason for walking away from the Roosters was to ditch the tag of being a utility player.

Canterbury recruit Drew Hutchison reveals he left the Roosters to try and lock down a starting role. Picture: NRL Imagery.

In 71 games for the Roosters, Hutchison started at halfback seven times and was mostly used as a backline utility and off the bench.

“I’ve said that since coming to the Bulldogs that was my main motive for leaving,” Hutchison said.

“Coming to a club like the Bulldogs to not only establish myself in the team but establish myself as an NRL player, a starting player. It’s been a real challenge for me.”

A secret ingredient in Hutchison’s bid to secure the halfback role has been a strict diet that the 28-year-old believes will be the difference in the race to the No.7 jersey for the Bulldogs’ season opener against Parramatta on March 9.

Hutchison has shed the kilograms this pre-season, by sticking to a diet of meat and good carbs. Picture: Instagram

“I know I have always carried a bit of extra weight, it’s always a goal in the pre-season to get as lean as you can and be able to play at your best weight. It’s something I have focused on in the pre-season,” Hutchison said.

“I’m pretty simple. I stick to meat and getting the good carbs in and eat as healthy as I can … it’s about getting as much body fat off as I can.”

Hutchison also revealed that Ciraldo is yet to give an indication of what the starting side would look like for round 1.

But a call would be made after the trials, when the Bulldogs play Melbourne on February 15 and Cronulla a week later.

“The way we have training it’s up for grabs, the trials are important in terms of positions. One thing I have noticed here is 1-17, there are spots up for grabs. No one is locked in. The coach has been honest about that,” Hutchison said.

Ciraldo also has selection dilemmas at fullback and in the outside backs. While marquee recruit Stephen Crichton is keen to make a name for himself as an elite NRL fullback, he’s still a genuine option at centre alongside Connor Tracey and Bronson Xerri. Taaffe is also an option at fullback for Ciraldo.

Hutchison says fellow recruit Bronson Xerri is fit and firing this pre-season, and is ready to make his NRL return. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Despite Xerri having not played a game since 2019 after he was banned for doping, Hutchison believes the 23-year-old is ready for an NRL comeback as soon as the opening round.

“I’d like to be able to run that fast,” Hutchison said.

“He’s pretty impressive … he’s held his hand up for the mistake he made four years ago and came back in the best shape he’s been in his career. He’s fit, fast, he’s athletic. The game has changed but he understands that. “He’s a student, he wants to learn and get better.”

Hutchison also backed Ciraldo’s training methods after the club was put under the spotlight when a player took mental health leave after being made to wrestle a long line of teammates for arriving late to training.

But Hutchison said Ciraldo’s efforts to build a winning culture at the struggling club are cutting through with the players.

“Hearing the rumours and the whispers last year, it couldn’t be further from the truth when you come here and see how hard the boys do train,” Hutchison said.

“Some boys when they get pulled out of drills it’s almost like a fight, they have to be really pulled out.”

Hutchison admits coach Cameron Ciraldo is yet to give any hints over his 2024 starting team, as the battle for the No.7 jersey heats up. Picture: NRL Imagery

In a bid to galvanise a squad with 10 new faces, Ciraldo put his new-look outfit through a gruelling army style camp just before Christmas. It was the same army camp the Panthers completed ahead of their 2020 season, when Ciraldo was the club’s assistant coach.

At the time, it was credited as the turning point in Penrith’s on-field fortunes.

Hutchison believes it will have a similar impact at Belmore.

“I hate it, it was pretty tough,” Hutchison said.

“It was three days of blokes really coming together. You get an understanding of the boys around you and what they are capable of. It was one of those camps where everyone understood how strong and fit everyone is. We are really looking forward to getting around each other and playing footy together.

“That camp was, no matter how you’re feeling, how tired you are, you have to get on with your job.