Lonely skipper John Hutchinson lost without Central Coast teammates Mariners skipper John Hutchinson with the A-League trophy. ASK John Hutchinson if he can do a photo with the A-League trophy, and the Central Coast Mariners skipper doesn't hesitate. "Oh, you just name a day this week and I'll be there," he tells The Daily Telegraph. I know it sounds weird but I really do have nowhere else to be. So could this be the loneliest grand final celebration in Australian sports history? Two days after winning the A-League decider, after shaking a hoodoo that was his for eight years, and still poor old Hutch is yet to have a decent drink. With the rest of his team in South Korea for another round of the Asian Champions League - a game for which he is suspended - we yesterday found the champion midfielder simply knocking about his Terrigal home. "And I am feeling fairly lonely, to be honest," he grins. I don't know if I'm supposed to go to the pub, watch TV ... it's like you know you've won a grand final and yet it all feels a bit awkward. But the boys are back Thursday morning and you could say I'm looking forward to seeing them. As an inaugural member of the Mariners, Hutchinson went into last Sunday's match desperate to remove the curse that had seen his club lose all three deciders contested. Outsiders with the bookies, the Coasties also had to contend with a Western Sydney Wanderers sensation that had not only gone 13 games without loss, but boasted a screaming posse of some 30,000 fans. "When we were up two-nil, the Wanderers started to put pressure on us and all I kept thinking was, c'mon boys, we can't let them score," the 33-year-old said And with that premiership gong now finally in his grasp, Hutchinson also yesterday unveiled the secret weapon he firmly believes got his team home against the Wanderers - a tiny Buddah. "My wife gave it to me just before I left for Sydney," the skipper reveals, pulling said trinket from his pocket. At first I just sort've threw it into my bag like, 'thanks babe', thinking it would never come out again. But you know what? Before we ran out, I just had to rub his belly for luck. I was standing there in the locker room, rubbing his belly over and over saying, c'mon bud, today has to be our day. Anyway, he's following me everywhere from now on. And as for how long until the little bloke gets his head wet at a noted Coast watering hole? "Well, after the game everyone was in bed by 11pm," Hutchinson laughed. And by six o'clock next morning they were gone for their flight. But they're back Thursday, it'll be worth the wait.