RUGBY league can be a funny old game some times.
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Rewind to the end of the 2016 NRL season and Albion Park-Oak Flats product Drew Hutchison was pegged as the long-term replacement in the St Goerge Illawarra halves for the departing Benji Marshall.
However, a training accident just before Christmas, saw the playmaker suffer a ruptured ACL - and he was sidelined for nine months.
He then returned to the training track at the end of 2017 but was not part of the Red V's plans, as they had just signed Australian half Ben Hunt.
The Group Seven junior took his talents abroad, where he decided to try and rebuild his career with the Leigh Centurions in the United Kingdom.
"Looking back, I really enjoyed my time over in England but not everything went to plan with the club, with some issues coming up with the owner," Hutchison said.
"In saying that, I was pretty proud to play every game coming off a serious knee.
"Obviously there are certain games or plays I wish I could have again but that happens in any sport."
Hutchison said he came back to Australia as a better player than when he left.
"The UK game is a lot more physical and not as free-flowing as the NRL," he said.
"This forced me to find different ways to inject myself into a game of footy, that I wasn't used to."
Hutchison, who played four games with the Dragons, came home in November and looked for a new club to revitalise his career.
"I was kind of looking around for a long time for a club and a week or two before Christmas, I actually approached the Roosters and asked them if I could join the club on a train and trial deal," he said.
"It gave me seven weeks to put my best foot forward and try and secure a position in the squad.
"I've never really been in that position before where I've had to train for my career, as every day your being watched.
"It was a different feeling and not one I'm used to but it really forced me to bring my best effort to training each and every day, which thankfully saw me secure my spot.
"This is a step in the right direction for me but it certainly isn't the end goal."
These tough Roosters sessions, where Hutchison has really been impressed with the whole squad including halves Cooper Cronk and Luke Keary, have put him into a strong position to hit the ground running in 2019.
He will play for the North Sydney Bears take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Canterbury Cup on Sunday.
"I'm firstly concentrating on finding myself a role in the reserve grade side, stringing some good performances together and helping the team win some games," he said.
"If I can do those things, I'm sure any future first grade opportunities will take care of themselves."