{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Jake Averillo |fullname = |nickname = |image = Jake Averillo 2026.jpg |image_size = 285 |position = {{rlp|CE|FB|FE|HB}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2000|08|11}} |birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|183|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|92|kg|stlb|0|abbr=on}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Canterbury Bulldogs}} |year1start = 2020 |year1end = 23 |appearances1 = 78 |tries1 = 31 |goals1 = 39 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 202 |club2 = Dolphins |year2start = 2024 |year2end = present |appearances2 = 54 |tries2 = 28 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 112 |teamA = {{nowrap|Prime Minister's XIII}} |yearAstart = 2022 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 1 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 4 |new = yes |source =<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jake-averillo/summary.html|title=Jake Averillo – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref> |updated = 25 April 2026 }}
'''Jake Averillo''' (born 11 August 2000) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|ce}} for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Averillo previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He also played as a {{rlp|wg}}er, {{rlp|fe}} and {{rlp|hb}} earlier in his career.
==Background== Averillo was born in Sydney and played junior rugby league for Bankstown Sports and Moorebank Rams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/bulldogs/jake-averillo/|title=Official NRL profile of Jake Averillo for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | NRL.com|website=National Rugby League}}</ref> He is the nephew of Socceroo Jason Van Blerk, the grandson of Socceroo Cliff Van Blerk{{cn|date=March 2026}} and is of Zimbabwean descent.<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2026/03/18/averillo-keen-to-represent-zimbabwean-culture/ |title=Averillo keen to represent Zimbabwean culture |publisher=Dolphinsnrl.com |date=18 March 2026}}</ref>
==Playing career== ===Canterbury–Bankstown Bulldogs <small>(2020–2023)</small>=== thumb|Jake Averillo with the Bulldogs Averillo made his NRL debut in round 2 of the 2020 season for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs against the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/03/17/round-2-nrl-squad-announcements/ |title=Round 2 NRL team lists |publisher=NRL.com |date=10 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Taumalolo the man as Cowboys beat Bulldogs|url=https://www.espn.com/nrl/story/_/id/28925035/jason-taumalolo-man-cowboys-beat-bulldogs|date=2020-03-19|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2020-06-01}}</ref>
In round 14 of the 2021 NRL season, Averillo scored two tries and kicked five goals as Canterbury–Bankstown defeated St. George Illawarra. This was Canterbury–Bankstown's second win for the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/14/averillo-stars-as-bulldogs-blitz-out-of-sorts-dragons/|title='We were in control': Averillo stars in Bulldogs blitz|website=www.nrl.com|date=14 June 2021}}</ref> In round 22, Averillo broke his hand in Canterbury-Bankstown's loss against the New Zealand Warriors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-casualty-ward-round-22-dale-finucane-storm-concussion-injuries-return-dates-ins-and-outs/news-story/9153d13589d68ef190a62b23f385a695?fbclid=IwAR3ZlYHzpJmwkgzM2N0Q2OBOyaq6Bi-R-LelvigwS8JwNH50r4sMQdS9ShM/|title=Fifita hospitalised with 'significant' larynx injury, 'trouble breathing': Casualty Ward|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=16 August 2021}}</ref> In round 25, he scored two tries for Canterbury–Bankstown in a 38–0 victory over the Wests Tigers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-05/nrl-gold-coast-titans-reach-finals-bulldogs-thrash-wests-tigers/100424064|title=Gold Coast Titans beat Warriors 44–0 to clinch NRL finals berth, Canterbury defeats Wests Tigers 38–0|website=www.abc.net.au |date=5 September 2021 }}</ref> Averillo made a total of twenty-one appearances for Canterbury–Bankstown in the 2021 NRL season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/the-most-unlikely-finals-contender-but-can-the-warriors-pull-off-a-miracle-20210815-p58iw1.html/|title=Flanagan in line for another NRL recall as Barrett seethes at bunker|website=www.smh.com.au|date=15 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-set-to-sign-max-king-and-braidon-burns/a9fa54c9-a224-4cc9-ae15-8a5dd1e74275/|title=Canterbury Bulldogs set to sign Rabbitohs star Braidon Burns, Storm prop Max King for 2022 NRL season|website=wwos.nine.com.au |date=30 September 2021 }}</ref>
In round 12 of the 2022 NRL season, he scored two tries for Canterbury–Bankstown in their 34–24 loss against St. George Illawarra at Belmore Sports Ground.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-29/nrl-live-bulldogs-dragons-raiders-eels-score-updates/101107860/|title=Parramatta Eels edge Canberra Raiders 28–20, Dragons beat Bulldogs 34–24|newspaper=ABC News|date=29 May 2022 }}</ref> In round 14, Averillo scored two tries for Canterbury-Bankstown in their 34–4 victory over the Parramatta Eels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/disgraceful-mitchell-moses-unforgivable-blunder-in-loss-to-canterbury-bulldogs/news-story/c65ad9409030fcbd9acb1147b9e7e88c/|title='Disgraceful': Mitchell Moses' unforgivable blunder in loss to Canterbury Bulldogs|website=www.news.com.au}}</ref> The following week, he scored two tries in Canterbury–Bankstown's 36–12 victory over the Wests Tigers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-19/nrl-live-score-updates/101163606/|title=Canterbury Bulldogs beat Wests Tigers, Canberra Raiders survive dogged Newcastle Knights fightback|newspaper=ABC News|date=19 June 2022 }}</ref> Averillo played a total of twenty matches for Canterbury-Bankstown throughout the season, scoring nine tries. The club finished twelfth on the table and missed the finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2022-canterbury-bulldogs-season-review/wapmyddrbadukioadiybr1fs/|title=NRL 2022: Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs season review|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=12 September 2022 }}</ref>
In round 9 of the 2023 NRL season, Averillo scored two tries for Canterbury–Bankstown in their 18–16 victory over St. George Illawarra.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/awesome-averillo-leads-bulldogs-victory-081800515.html/|title=Awesome Averillo leads Bulldogs to victory over Dragons|website=au.sports.yahoo.com|date=30 April 2023 }}</ref> The following week, Averillo scored two tries in Canterbury-Bankstown's 30–34 loss against Canberra.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-05/nrl-magic-round-bulldogs-raiders-manly-broncos-live-scores/102290992/|title=Magic Round begins with Brisbane Broncos beating Manly 32–6, Canberra Raiders downing Canterbury Bulldogs 34–30|newspaper=ABC News|date=5 May 2023 }}</ref> In round 20 of the 2023 NRL season, Averillo scored two tries for Canterbury in their 44–24 loss against Brisbane.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-live-canterburybankstown-bulldogs-vs-brisbane-broncos-live-blog-scores-team-lists-supercoach-live-news-payne-haas-pat-carrigan/news-story/d3fd77667bf3f66233587597bb5d808e/|title='Magician' Reynolds puts on clinic as Broncos spoil Bulldogs' farewell party at Belmore: Big Hits|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=15 July 2023 }}</ref>
===Dolphins <small>(2024–2026)</small>=== Averillo commenced a three-year contract with the Dolphins from 2024 onwards.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-contract-news-jake-averillo-sign-dolphins-depart-bulldogs/mlrfzihbok2yjbv5q4rh8zyf|title=NRL contract news: Jake Averillo signs with Dolphins, will depart Bulldogs at end of 2023|date=21 June 2023 }}</ref> In round 26 of the 2024 NRL season, Averillo scored two tries for the Dolphins in their 40–6 victory over the Brisbane Broncos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-live-queensland-rivalry-heats-up-ahead-of-mustwin-clash-at-suncorp/news-story/8b8f2909303d4d90ec1cca651f02433e/|title=Mind games behind Wayne's Dolphins 'masterclass' as 'miserable' moment sums up Broncos: What we learned|website=www.foxsports.com.au |date=31 August 2024 }}</ref> Averillo played a total of twenty-three matches for the Dolphins in the 2024 NRL season and scored eleven tries as the club finished 10th on the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-exclusive-season-review-dolphins-wayne-bennett-20240912-p5ka9m.html/|title=The Mole's end-of-season review: How one star 'lost his way' as Dolphins struggle with 'demanding' schedule|website=www.nine.com.au |date=12 September 2024 }}</ref> Averillo played every game for the Dolphins in the 2025 NRL season as the club narrowly missed out on the finals finishing 9th.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2025-the-mole-dolphins-season-review-ladder-signings-hamiso-tabuai-fidow-kristian-woolf-20250909-p5mth9.html/|title=The Mole's 2025 review: Concerning gulf separating Dolphins from NRL's top contenders|website=www.nine.com.au}}</ref>
== Statistics == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Goals !Pts |- |2020 | rowspan="4" |{{Leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |13 |3 |12 |36 |- |2021 |21 |7 |27 |82 |- |2022 |20 |9 | |36 |- |2023 |24 |6 | |24 |- |2024 | rowspan="3" |{{Leagueicon|Dolphins|16}} Dolphins |23 |11 | |44 |- |2025 |24 |11 | |44 |- |2026 |4 |5 | |20 |- | |Totals |129 |58 |39 |310 |} source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jake Averillo - Playing Career - RLP |url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jake-averillo/summary.html |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/dolphins/jake-averillo/ Dolphins profile] *[https://www.bulldogs.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/canterbury-bankstown-bulldogs/jake-averillo/ Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs profile]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} *[https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jake-averillo/summary.html/ RLP profile]
{{Dolphins squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Averillo, Jake}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Australian people of Zimbabwean descent Category:Australian people of Italian descent Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent Category:Australian people of Dutch descent Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Category:Dolphins (NRL) players Category:Prime Minister's XIII players Category:Rugby league centres Category:Rugby league players from Sydney Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen