Drew Hutchison will continue his rugby league career in 2026, but the veteran playmaker has opted for a return to his roots rather than another campaign in the NRL or Super League.
After falling out of Canterbury’s first-grade plans this season and featuring only at NSW Cup level, the 30-year-old has signed a deal to rejoin the Albion Park Oak Flats Eagles in the South Coast Group 7 competition.
The move marks a full-circle moment for Hutchison, who began his junior footy at the Eagles before launching a professional career that spanned multiple clubs and two countries.
The Eagles confirmed the signing with a glowing tribute, declaring, “Drew Hutchison will be returning to the club for the 2026 season,” and celebrating his decision to come back to the place “where his rugby league journey first began.”
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Hutchison’s professionalism, experience and versatility made him a respected figure at every stop in his career, having played 88 NRL games and 35 Super League matches across stints with the Dragons, Leigh, Roosters and Bulldogs.
At the Roosters he started to be compared to club legend Mitchell Aubusson for his ability to plug holes anywhere in the backline or forwards, something which stuck with him through his career thereafter.
Ever the team player, Hutchison remained a valued squad member even in seasons where opportunities were limited, and just two years ago found himself a starting half for the Bulldogs amidst the club’s rebuild back towards NRL contender.
Despite stepping back from the professional ranks, a future NRL return can’t be ruled out, especially with expansion clubs the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs set to target hardened, experienced campaigners when they join the competition in 2027 and 2028.
At just 30 years of age, Hutchison could still have a number of rugby league years ahead of him professionally, for now though, Hutchison will take on a fresh challenge at a club that knows him well and values the leadership he brings.
It’s a move that keeps his playing career alive and reconnects him with the grassroots community where it all began, offering both a reset and a reminder of the journey that took him from the South Coast to the top level of the game.