There is little doubt around the improvement Canterbury Bulldogs' centre Jake Averillo has shown over the first nine rounds of the 2023 NRL season.
After being bumped around from position to position during the early part of his career, the now 22-year-old was moved away from fullback for the start of this season to find a permanent home in the centres under Cameron Ciraldo.
The ex-Panthers' assistant said before a ball was kicked this season that he believed Averillo could become one of the game's best centres, and so far, it's hard to fault the comment.
In nine games, the centre has scored 4 tries, added another 4 try assists, made 22 tackle breaks, 7 line breaks, 114 metres per game and has defended very healthily, his game improving week on week.
His two-try effort in Wollongong for an undermanned Bulldogs against the St George Illawarra Dragons saw more praise heaped on Averillo, with the Bankstown Sports and Moorebank Rams junior running for 241 metres in a blistering performance.
That saw Ciraldo heap more praise on him, but media reports suggest it's also seen other clubs take a substantial interest in his future, with Averillo off-contract at the end of the year.
It's understood the Bulldogs would like to keep him, as well as fellow off-contract centre Paul Alamoti, but with the arrivals of Bronson Xerri and Stephen Crichton next year, both money and the fight for places in Canterbury's back five will be tight.
Contracted for 2024 alongside Xerri and Crichton are Josh Addo-Carr, Jacob Kiraz, Hayze Perham and boom NSW Cup talent Jeral Skelton.
Taking that Crichton, Addo-Carr and Kiraz lock up spots in the back five, that leaves Xerri, Perham, Skelton and potentially Averillo and Alamoti fighting for two spots in the centres.
The interest in Averillo is hardly a surprise, but here are the five clubs who should be immediately getting on the phone to try and snare the Bulldogs' centre.
Keep in mind this is purely hypothetical and the Bulldogs could yet retain his signature - and as mentioned, the rumour mill suggests they are keen too.
2. Wests Tigers
Despite the lengthy recruitment surge the Tigers went on ahead of the 2023 campaign, they are still linked to just about every free agent who hits the market, particularly in the backs.
Averillo has found a home in the centres, but his versatility may appeal to coach Tim Sheens and the management at Concord, who could have multiple backline positions to fill in 2024.
All reports are that Tommy Talau won't be at the club next year, while the remainder of the backline are all struggling to cement themselves - players like Charlie Staines, David Nofoaluma, Junior Tupou, Starford To'a, Asu Kepaoa and Brent Naden, while Daine Laurie is off-contract at the back and seemingly unlikely to be re-signed.
There will be competition for spots at Concord in 2024, but I daresay Averillo would walk straight into Tim Sheens' starting side if we made the jump to the joint venture based on the form he has shown over the first nine weeks of the 2023 season.
Cows would be fine for him, if he is fine with living in the far north.
Depends a lot on his personal life, so he may not go to the obvious club.