Key men and moments in Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League

We look at the highlights and predict what might happen in the second half of the season.

Despite not winning the premiership last year, Ballina were the front-runners for most of the season and are on top of the ladder now after eleven rounds.

The Seagulls are one of the only teams in the competition who have enough depth to cover injuries and they have only lost one game this season.

Captain Anthony Colman leads the way in the forwards while fullback Liam Green is one of the fastest players in the competition.

Cudgen started slow, but have had big wins over Bilambil and Northern United in recent weeks.

Most of the 2023 premiership-winning team are gone and it looked like it could have been a rebuilding year.

The team's fortunes changed when star forward Caleb Ziebell moved to five-eighth with most of the tries coming off his work.

Most players come back from retirement within 12 months in NRRRL and that has happened again this year.

Halfback Jess Perry and front-rower Damian Sironen returned for Ballina in the eighth round after finishing up last year with the grand final loss.

The bigger surprise was seeing front-rower Dylan Montgomery turn out for Casino a fortnight ago.

He played at Ballina and retired after a few years at Byron Bay last year.

The Bombers are starting to show the form that took them to a grand final in 2022.

They will need some luck with injuries, but any side with Roy Bell in it usually goes on to play finals.

Hooker Matt Toole and second-rower Justin Shillingsworth have plenty of big-game experience.

Marist Brothers and Northern United have shown promise against the top teams and should be thinking finals.

Brothers defeated Cudgen, playing most of the game with 12 men, while United put 30 points on Ballina.

Finishing in the top two is a big advantage at finals times, but Cudgen won it from fifth last year which is where one of the Lismore-based teams could be this year.

You don't have to look far to see a player or coach with NRL experience at a particular ground each week.

Some are 200-game veterans, while others played and coached at State of Origin and Australian level.

United have Tyrone Roberts and James Roberts who are new additions this season.

Former Dally M winner Todd Carney has been with Byron Bay for six years and is coaching again while injured.

Michael Gordon plays for Tweed Coast with the side coached by Clive Churchill medallist Brent Kite.

It is Kite's second stint at the club after coaching the Raiders to the NRRRL premiership in 2018.

Luke Douglas is back home playing for Lower Clarence after winning a title at Ballina in 2020 while Mullumbimby has a wealth of experience in coach Chris Anderson.

Anderson took the reins this season with the 71-year-old having a decorated coaching career which included 22 wins during his time in charge of the Australian Kangaroos between 1999 and 2003.

Ballina v Tweed Coast at Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina

Mullumbimby v Bilambil at Les Donnelly Field, Mullumbimby.

Lower Clarence v Casino at Yamba Sports Complex.

Murwillumbah v Marist Brothers at Murwillumbah Colts ground

Evans Head v Kyogle at Stan Payne Oval, Evans Head. Byron Bay v Cudgen at Red Devil Park, Byron Bay.

Ballina 16, Byron Bay 15, Cudgen 14, Evans Head 14, Bilambil 12, Marist Brothers 11, Northern United 10, Murwillumbah 10 Mullumbimby 8, Casino 7, Tweed Coast 5, Kyogle 2, Lower Clarence 2.