Key men fire warning shots in Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League

These players have produced individual highlights in the early rounds and are showing why they will instrumental in how successful their teams are on the field this year.

It is the halves and fullbacks who have stood out in the early rounds.

Strong running game and scored two tries in a hard-fought win over Northern United.

The son of dual international Mat Rogers has formed a promising partnership in the halves with Toby Marks.

Byron Bay are unbeaten after three games with Rogers playing a key role in each win.

One of the few players in the competition who looks dangerous everytime time he touches the ball.

The halfback has a supreme passing game while the young backline around him will benefit from his skill set.

A combination with Mitchell Krause could prove fruitful with the centre taking his 2023 form into this season.

The five-eighth has a strong kicking game and creates plenty of opportunities for the players around him.

A perfectly timed kicked saw winger Noah Waldock score a try out wide in a win over Cudgen in the grand final rematch.

Lofts is new to first grade and can make the position his own at Ballina.

He scored three tries in a second half blitz against Byron Bay.

McKenzie can score tries from long range with his speed and is dangerous in how he moves.

His combination with former NRL player and United halfback Tyrone Roberts will be more lethal as the season goes on.

The teenage talent has pulled off multiple 90m tries from intercepts to help his side in back-to-back games.

His first forced a 30-draw with Mullumbimby at the death while his second put the Cougars in the box seat in its win over Tweed Coast.

The 18-year-old plays in representative teams on the Gold Coast and is an early contender for NRRRL rookie of the year.

The match between Ballina and Byron Bay at Kingsford Smith, Ballina is shaping up as the match of the round.

There is no love lost between the two teams with both undefeated so far this season.

Byron Bay are one of the bigger forward packs in the competition while the experience of hooker Michael Dwane and second-rower Anthony Colman will be crucial for Ballina.

Elsewhere, United has another big game against Evans Head at Crozier Field Lismore.

A poor start proved costly against Byron Bay, before they went on to score 18 unanswered points in the second half.

Halfback Roy Bell, hooker Matt Toole will play key roles for the Bombers with lock Kyle Kennedy is out long-term with a biceps injury.

The ladder is disjointed after four rounds with some teams having missed an extra game due to wet weather.

LADDER Byron Bay 6 Casino 5 Evans Head 4 Ballina 4 Mullumbimby 4 Marist Brothers 3 Bilambil 2 Cudgen 2 Northern United 2 Tweed Coast 2 Murwillumbah 2 Kyogle 0 Lower Clarence o

Other games this weekend: Round 5, May 5-6

Casino Cougars v Bilambil at Queen Elizabeth Park, Casino.

Mullumbimby v Cudgen at Les Donnelly Field, Mullumbimby.

Tweed Coast v Kyogle at Les Burger Field, Cabarita

Lower Clarence v Murwillumbah at Yamba Sports Complex.

Marist Brothers have the bye.