The 21-year-old former Junior Kangaroo made three appearances in the top grade last season and was expected to push for more this year but was kept to just one appearance – a solid showing in round 25  against Parramatta – in 2016.

The Dragons chased off-contract halves Luke Keary and Corey Norman without success this season and, after choosing not to renew the contract of Benji Marshall, will head into the off-season without an established halfback.

Hutchison has played all but two matches in the ISP this season and knows a spearheading the Cutters to a title would be big boost to his chances of filling the vacant halfback role for the Dragons in 2017.

To do that the Cutters will need to get past Newtown in Sunday’s preliminary final at Leichardt Oval and Hutchison is confident his side has the arsenal to reach the grand final for the first time in the club’s history.

“I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t reflect positively on me,” Hutchison said.

“Of course I want to play really well in this finals series and help my chances of starting in first grade next year. It’s pretty exciting really to be only one game away from a grand final and those opportunities don’t come around all that much so I know all the boys are just as excited as I am.

“There’s a really good feel in the group, everyone enjoys each other’s company, we’re all pretty close mates and it’s all looking really positive for us at the moment. If we put together a full 80-minute performance I’ve got no doubt we’ll be in the grand final.”

The Albion Park-Oak Flats junior said it’s been the tightness of the group under coach Jason Demetriou that has helped him navigate an, at times, frustrating season in which he was starved of NRL action.

“Throughout the disappointment of not getting picked in first grade you come back to the Cutters and you always enjoy your footy so it makes it a lot easier,” Hutchison said.

“The boys around you keep you grounded and level-headed as well because they’re always taking the piss out of you so it’s a really enjoyable place to be.”

It’s also allowed Hutchison to build a strong partnership with five-eighth Shaun Nona, a luxury at reserve grade leal, in a spine that includes experienced heads Josh McCrone at hooker and Adam Quinlan at fullback.

“It helps us out a lot that we haven’t been chopping and changing in those positions too much,” Hutchison said.

“By round 26 you have a pretty good understanding of each others’ games which really helps at finals time. There’s certain structures we need to stick to but it’s also about encouraging everyone that they’ve go the ability to play what they see. If the pass is on you pass it, if the off-load’s there you throw it. It’s just about having the trust in the bloke next to you to do the right thing.”