Averillo is not a halfback. He is a 5/8th in a team with an organising halfback and/or hooker. The balance with him, Burton and JMK/BBO is way off. We need someone that can lead the team, organise the play and help Burton with kicking on the last.
For mine, we aren't going to get the best out of Burton if he is tasked with doing all the organising and kicking. He simply isn't ready.
When Penrith played Parramatta without Cleary, Luai really struggled playing alongside May. The dynamic was not the same and it didn't really allow him to play his normal game.
I don't like Reynolds and I wouldn't want him at the Dogs but he is perfect for Cody. They will struggle next season without a smart operator in the 7 because Cook is a running 9 as well.
I don't know what the answer is but lets take a look at some average/decent halfbacks that helped get their teams to grand finals:
- Sezer with Wighton and Hodgson.
- Townsend with Maloney and Ennis.
- Croft with Munster and Smith.
All organisers with kicking games that basically played second fiddle to more talented play makers in their teams. I'm not saying Brooks is the answer here either. Maybe not relying on him to be our star is the right way to get the best out of him though? I don't know but if I was Burton I would rather play alongside Brooks or Flanagan than Averillo.