Settled Averillo feeling right at home on centre stage

He’s played every position in the blue and white backline but Jake Averillo believes he’s finally found a home in the centres for Cameron Ciraldo’s Bulldogs.

Since making his debut as a teenager in 2020, the 22-year-old Belmore junior has taken the utility tag to a whole new level, having played at wing, centre, five-eighth, halfback, fullback and off the bench at hooker across his 65-game career.

Having nailed down the Bulldogs’ No. 3 jersey in all 11 games this season, Averillo said his recent form can be put down to consistency under new coach Ciraldo.

“I think what suits me is being able to develop in that position, knowing I'm playing at centre every week has definitely helped,” Averillo told pan66.com.

“I think the centre position allows me to get into the game more and allows me to bring out the best for myself. As long as I'm getting the ball and a bit of space and time, I’m happy.

“But it is quite different to other positions. The hardest part is probably defence, your decisions at centre are probably the most crucial.

“So that’s something I've learned and just being able to get a lot of reps there from the start of pre-season has definitely helped make me feel a bit more comfortable there."

Since arriving at Belmore ahead of the 2023 season, Ciraldo has had a clear plan for Averillo to be his right-edge centre and the Moorebank Ram has responded with some of the best footy of his blossoming career.

“Cirro said from the start he saw me as a centre and thought I could play some good footy there,” he said.

“I’m really grateful he put me there early in the pre-season so I could gain a bit of confidence there.

“I think it's just come back to stability and getting those reps all the way back from preseason has definitely helped to make me feel a bit more comfortable out on the field."

Averillo has been one of the shining lights for a Bulldogs side sitting 15th heading into Round 12, notching six tries, four try assists and 29 tackle breaks while averaging 110 run metres per game.

With right-edge partner Jacob Kiraz continuing to enhance his reputation after a superb World Cup with Lebanon, the new-age Bulldogs are revelling in a similar style of “off the cuff” football.

“I’ve got a pretty good combo there with Kiraz, I think it also helped that we had the whole pre-season to start working together on our edge there,” Averillo said.

“I’ve said before, I think we’re both pretty unorthodox, so I think we bounce off each other a bit in that way and like playing what’s in front of us.

“The big focus for us has been competing on everything, that’s been a big standpoint and winning those little individual battles on our side."

Averillo is off contract at the end of 2023, and while he believes success is just around the corner at the Bulldogs, he'll keep options open and "see what pans out".