Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League (NRRRL): Top-40 players of the 2025 season so far
From big-name recruits to unsung heroes and surprise packets, check out which players have starred so far in the 2025 NRRRL season.
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There have been some thrilling games, stunning comebacks and plenty of rain over the first half of the NRRRL season.
There have also been some outstanding performers from across the board. From big-name stars to unheralded workers and those who might have flown under the radar, check out 40 of the top players to star during the 2025 season.
THE BIG GUNS
LUKE DOUGLAS (LOWER CLARENCE MAGPIES)
He might have turned 39 earlier this season but the former Cronulla and Gold Coast forward continues to set the standard for his hometown club.
“Dougie still gets it done, even at his ripe old age,” said Lower Clarence coach Dan Cox. “He’s so effective. He connects our middle to our edge really well, like the modern lock, and just works so hard. We try to take a lot of pressure off him but you just can’t – he just loves it.”
And while Douglas has been outstanding on the field, it’s just one part of what he brings to the club.
“He’s everything. When you talk about club and community and the humility of the Lower Clarence area, he’s just a testament to it. You’d never know that he’s achieved anything.”
SHALLIN FULLER (MARIST BROTHERS)
A genuine contender for player of the season, the halfback has once again been absolutely outstanding as the Rams have established themselves as frontrunners with a real shot at winning the title.
Whether running with the ball in hand, putting teammates through a gap or going to the air with a bomb, Fuller has been a constant threat in attack and carved opponents up at will so far in the campaign.
SHANNON GARDINER (MURWILLUMBAH MUSTANGS)
A former NSW Cup and Q Cup player who joined the club from Burleigh in the off-season, Gardiner has been nothing short of outstanding for the Mustangs, whether it be playing hooker, in the halves or at lock.
“You can tell he’s one of those blokes who has played at the higher level, and sometimes it’s even hard for our blokes to keep up with him,” said Murwillumbah president Nigel Lofts.
“He’s such a good defender and does all that tidying up around the ruck. Good player.”
KYLE KENNEDY (EVANS HEAD BOMBERS)
Tough as teak and skilful to boot, Kennedy has returned to the form that saw him earn a Country representative jumper a couple of years ago after an injury-disrupted 2024.
“Week in, week out, he’s in the top couple of performers for us,” said Evans Head football manager Nathan Williams. “He just goes forward all day, he plays 80 minutes each week and basically doesn’t stop.”
HEZEKIAH MCKENZIE (NORTHERN UNITED)
It has been a tough old season for Northern United but the Dirawongs’ captain has been a real shining light for the side.
Shifting between his usual position at fullback and playing with the number seven on his back, McKenzie has shown all the class and creativity that earned him Northern Rivers representative selection and the 2023 NRRRL player of the year award.
While he has been excellent all season, the round three clash with ladder-leaders Cudgen stands out as McKenzie laid on two tries and brilliantly set up another as Northern just fell short of pulling off a big victory.
JACOB MILLER (MULLUMBIMBY GIANTS)
The local lad was arguably the competition’s highest-profile recruit when he returned to his junior club at the beginning of the season after 12 years and close to 300 games in the UK Super League.
Playing with the number seven on his back, Miller has made a huge difference to Mullum with the ball in hand, while his game management helped the side close out some tight contests early on in the season.
TYRONE ROBERTS (BALLINA SEAGULLS)
While it might have been a slightly up-and-down first half of the campaign for the defending premiers, Roberts has been nothing short of outstanding after returning to his junior club for a swan song season.
Whether slicing through the line with a big step and dummy or putting the ball up high, the 34-year-old has shown all the class that earned him a decade-long professional career in the NRL and UK Super League.
DANIEL ROSS (TWEED COAST RAIDERS)
The heart and soul of the Raiders, Ross has been at his gritty and brilliant best in the middle of what has been an up-and-down campaign so far.
“He’s an absolute weapon for us,” said Tweed Coast’s Owen Fredericks. “He’s the biggest leader, he plays 80 minutes every week in the middle. He’s tough, he does his job. If we had four more Daniel Rosses in different positions we’d probably be undefeated.”
ADAM WALKER (MURWILLUMBAH MUSTANGS)
Quick, powerful and with long levers to get the ball away under pressure, the strike centre has been dynamite out wide for the Mustangs in what has already been a successful campaign on the representative front.
After starring for the Northern Rivers Titans in the country championships he was one of five NRRRL players selected in the Country team as it defeated City 26-14 in May.
CALEB ZIEBELL (CUDGEN HORNETS)
Simply put, one of the best players to ever play local footy in the Northern Rivers, Ziebell has been at his brilliant best in 2025 with a string of huge moments and eye-catching performances.
From scoring two tries and pulling off a brilliant 75m line dropout to turn the game in a hard-fought win over Northern United in round three to a crucial 51m field goal to help get the side home against defending premiers Ballina in round four, he has been an almost constant threat for the table-topping Hornets.
And while he has an impressive highlights reel from the first half of this season alone, none top his length-of-the-field charge against Kyogle in round 10 that saw him pick up the ball from the kick-off, burst straight through the oncoming defence, go around the fullback and then pass off to teammate Jett Forbes for a contender for try of the season.
SPINE PLAYERS
WAYLON CALDWELL (CASINO COUGARS)
One of the brightest young prospects in the Northern Rivers, the talented half has picked up from his breakout rookie season last year and taken his game to another level.
A great ballplayer who can take on the line and put the ball on a string with his left foot, he’s been a big reason behind Casino’s good form and has an impressive knack of pulling off a big play when his team needs it.
HARRY FITZHUGH (BILAMBIL JETS)
Whether it’s taking on the line, putting teammates through gaps or putting in a kick to his outside men, the Bilambil halfback has been absolutely lethal in attack so far this season.
Genuinely one of the top players of the competition so far, Fitzhugh is a big reason why the Jets got off to a flyer and are well placed heading into the run to the finals.
CALLAN HOLLIS (LOWER CLARENCE MAGPIES)
After a breakout 2024 that saw him run in 15 tries and star for the Magpies in what was a difficult campaign, the hooker has picked up right where he left off with another blistering start to this season.
While he might give away a bit of size in the middle of the park, Hollis has once again proven to be particularly difficult to stop close to the line.
“He’s an X-factor dummy-half, he just goes,” said Lower Clarence coach Dan Cox. “He scores those tries you can’t teach or train for. He’s a little ball of energy and he’s just so strong and fast – he’s a cracker.”
NOAH KING (MARIST BROTHERS)
The new recruit has made an incredible impression in his first season as the club with some excellent performances at fullback.
“Noah King at the back is one of the best players that I’ve ever been involved with,” said coach Darryl Butcher.
“He’s a special footballer who just goes about his business: he doesn’t say much, he’s had his head punched in a few times over the past week but he doesn’t complain. He just gets up and gets about his way and gets onto his next job. He’s obviously a big in.”
TOM NEALE (TWEED SEAGULLS)
The halfback has been a real leader for the Seagulls in their first season back in A-grade in two decades, showing plenty of class with his ball playing and general kicking game to guide the side around the park.
“He’s been instrumental in our games,” said coach Craig Field. “Obviously he can play and has been outstanding.”
TAHNE ROBINSON (KYOGLE TURKEYS)
The halfback has been one of the buys of the season and a major factor in turning Kyogle into the most improved team in the competition.
Whether putting his outside men through holes, taking the line on the himself or chipping over the top for his teammates, Robinson has helped set up bucket loads of tries for the Turkeys while his game management has helped them home in a couple of tight contests.
EDDIE WALKER-WILLIAMS (CASINO COUGARS)
Predominantly playing in the halves this season rather than at fullback, Walker-Williams has had the opportunity to put his imprint firmly on the Cougars’ attack.
Striking up a good connection with young halves partner Waylon Caldwell, the playmaker has helped orchestrate some beautiful backline moves as Casino continues to impress.
UNSUNG HEROES
DEON BIANCHETTI (KYOGLE TURKEYS)
The beating heart of the Kyogle team, Bianchetti has once again been a tireless worker in the Turkeys’ pack.
Always lining up in defence and taking the tough carries, the big front-rower has shown why he remains a crowd favourite as New Park.
OWEN BROCK (MULLUMBIMBY GIANTS)
The big Englishman has been outstanding in the front-row, bringing plenty of energy and aggression to the Giants’ pack as they try to work their way out of the mid-table logjam.
He’s done a great job of laying the platform for his side and giving the halves something to work with.
KIEDAN HARTLEY (EVANS HEAD BOMBERS)
Along with fellow English recruit David Gibbons in the halves, fullback Kiedan Hartley has been a key addition to the Bombers this season.
Safe at the back and always good for a tough carry out of his own end, Hartley has regularly been among Evans Head’s best in the first half of the year.
OSCAR HOLT (TWEED COAST RAIDERS)
The new signing has been great value in the front row and has brought plenty of starch to the Raiders’ pack.
“He’s been amazing for us so far,” said Tweed Coast utility Owen Fredericks. “He’s very, very tough, strong in the middle and he’s just a genuine leader. He’s new to the club but when he speaks everyone listens. He’s been a great addition.”
TOBY MARKS (BYRON BAY RED DEVILS)
It’s been a difficult initiation to first grade football for Byron Bay’s young guns, but one player who has shown all his quality and class has been Toby Marks.
Shifting between the halves, fullback and even lock, Marks has done well to try and get the talented but inexperienced Red Devils going – and was rewarded with selection as utility the Country team earlier in the year.
Meanwhile in a sign of his leadership, he has taken over as captain-coach following the departure of boss Brian Battese after just the first couple of games.
LOCHLEN PERREN (MARIST BROTHERS)
The leader of the Rams’ pack, Perren has been rock solid in the middle and worked his guts out as the team emerges as a genuine contender for the title.
Part of a more experienced group of Marist players driven for success, the front-rower will be even more crucial to the side’s chances during the run to the finals.
KEENAN RAMSDEN (MULLUMBIMBY GIANTS)
Another of Mullum’s English recruits, Ramsden has impressed in his first season in the blue and gold with some strong performances at lock.
A good mix of physicality and skill, he has also importantly struck up a good combination with star half Jacob Miller.
“He’s added some really good footy and added a change-up in the middle,” said Nelson.
“He’s a big boy but he moves well and he’s got good hands and that creates a bit of footy for us in the middle.”
KIEFER RANDL (TWEED SEAGULLS)
The former Burleigh under-20s player has epitomised much of the Seagulls’ ticker and grit over the course of the first half of the season with some wholehearted performances at centre.
“He hasn’t missed a game, he plays injured and his defence has been outstanding,” said coach Craig Field
“He’s one of those players where I sit back and go, ‘Wow, how lucky am I to have this guy?’”
CONNOR ZIEBELL (CUDGEN HORNETS)
After missing much of last season through injury, Ziebell has benefited from a less-disrupted pre-season to star for the Hornets in the middle.
Leading the pack for his side, Ziebell has been huge in both defence and attack, running in six tries in the first 10 games to be Cudgen’s second-highest tryscorer so far, while also eating up the metres through the middle.
He was duly rewarded for his efforts when selected for the Country team alongside brother Caleb, in what was a special moment for the family.
STRIKE WEAPONS
OLIVER BLOOD (TWEED COAST RAIDERS)
One of the brightest prospects out of Cabarita, Blood has been great value with the number one on his back this season, regularly slicing through the line and causing plenty of headaches for opposition defences with his speed.
“There’s nothing of him but he puts his body on the line all the time,” said Tweed Coast’s Owen Fredericks. “He’s always team-first, he’s always at training and he’s been working really, really hard.”
MATT BOLLARD (MURWILLUMBAH MUSTANGS)
One of Murwillumbah’s top young guns has continued his excellent rise in 2025 by taking his game to another level.
While normally lining up in the centres, Bollard has played a bit of back row and even put in a couple of memorable performances at the back for the Mustangs.
“He’s been outstanding and he just gets better every year,” said Murwillumbah president Nigel Lofts.
“We put him back to fullback because we had a few blokes out and he was just sensational. That was the day we had an 8-all draw with Ballina (in round seven), it was an absolutely cracking game. Tyrone Roberts was putting up these spiral bombs in the pouring rain and he did not drop one – outstanding.”
TRAE CLARK (LOWER CLARENCE MAGPIES)
The former Q Cup player has been a fantastic recruit for the Magpies in what has been a much improved season, offering plenty of strike in attacking areas and yardage coming out of his own end.
“Those first few games he was probably our standout back,” said Lower Clarence coach Dan Cox. “He’s got a strong carry and has been making a lot of metres for us out of the back five.”
ANTHONY COLMAN (BALLINA SEAGULLS)
Last year’s NRRRL player of the season has picked up where he left off with Ballina.
Although the Seagulls have fallen on the wrong side of the ledger in a couple of close games, Colman has been at his best in the backrow, keeping things tight in defence while posing a dangerous attacking threat on the edge to be the team’s leading tryscorer after 10 games.
MALACHI DUMAS (CUDGEN)
The Cudgen flyer has produced arguably one of the most impressive highlights reels during an action-packed first half of the season.
Lightning quick off the blocks, the winger has also been incredibly dangerous in the air, showing great timing and hands to leap high and turn attacking kicks into four-pointers.
While he has put in a string of standout performances, none top his stunning four-try haul in Cudgen’s 64-10 rout of Mullumbimby in round six.
GAIRO KAPANA (CASINO COUGARS)
Big, strong and with a nose for the tryline, the Cougars’ Papua New Guinean winger has made quite an impression in 2025 and sits second on the tryscoring charts after the first 10 rounds.
But more than just catching the ball and diving over the line, Kapana has used his size and strength to create opportunities and power over the top of his opponents, highlighted by a hat-trick in Casino’s nailbiting 28-26 loss to Cudgen in round eight.
AIDAN KENNEDY (EVANS HEAD BOMBERS)
While not too many people would think of front-rowers as strike weapons, Kennedy is exactly that for Evans Head.
After battling through last season with injury, the big prop has come back to peak form for the Bombers and has perfectly taken over from his twin brother Lachlan, who moved away from the area in the off-season.
“He’s one of those big bodies who’s hard to bring down,” said Evans Head football manager Nathan Williams. “Close to the line he’s very hard to stop, he’s already scored a few tries this year.”
MITCHELL KRAUSE (MARIST BROTHERS)
The strike centre has once again been at his best over the first half of the season, feeding off gun halfback Shallin Fuller to wreak havoc down the left.
Finishing the regular season as the NRRRL’s leading tryscorer in 2023 and after coming in second place last year, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Rams’ captain challenges again for the gong this season.
JAMES TORRENS (KYOGLE TURKEYS)
Coming off back-to-back premierships with Tugun in the Gold Coast competition, the experienced centre has helped bring a winning mentality to Kyogle as the Turkeys enjoy their best start to the season in recent memory.
A serious threat on the edges, Torrens has also been rock-solid in without the ball and has helped to sort out some of Kyogle’s defensive fragility out wide.
SURPRISE PACKETS
JESSE BEAUCHAMP (EVANS HEAD BOMBERS)
Perhaps not a surprise packet to those who have played with him, but impact player has been a huge hit since joining Evans Head from Byron in the off-season.
Lightning quick out of dummy-half, he has caused chaos for tiring defenders on numerous occasions this year when injected into the game midway through the first half.
“He’s been fantastic. He’s explosive out of dummy-half with the speed he’s got, and for a little fella he tackles his heart out,” said Evans Head football manager Nathan Williams.
“He’s caught a few teams out this year, he’s always threatening. You can’t coach against speed.”
MASON DAVIES (MULLUMBIMBY GIANTS)
One of Mullumbimby’s unsung heroes so far, Davies has been a real threat on the wing and has doubled up as the side’s goalkicker in one of the more positive stories of the season.
“He actually got dropped back to reserve grade after our first couple of wins when other blokes came up but he’s forced his way back into the team and he’s been one of our best for the past few weeks,” said Mullum skipper Cody Nelson.
BLAKE GRAHAM (BILAMBIL JETS)
After being restricted to just a handful of games in A-grade last year, Graham has taken full advantage of his return to the top in 2025 with an excellent start to the campaign on the wing.
On top of getting the Jets’ sets off to a strong start with good yardage out of his own end, Graham has been an expert finisher down the left touchline, crossing for 10 tries in the opening nine games to be the competition’s leading tryscorer, highlighted by a brilliant four-try haul against Murwillumbah in round four.
COOPER JENNER (TWEED SEAGULLS)
Another of the genuine good-news stories of the season, the backrower has been a real threat on the edge as a ball runner, continuing his excellent season for the club last year.
“He’s been a reserve grader, never really played A-grade before but he’s been consistently one of our top-three players on the field,” said coach Craig Field.
ELI KAPEEN (LOWER CLARENCE MAGPIES)
The local junior has been a revelation since returning home from Evans Head in the off-season, putting in a string of solid performances to be one of the Magpies’ most consistent in the backline.
“I didn’t even know who he was two weeks before round one, but he’s been a real standout for us, a real find on the wing,” said Lower Clarence coach Dan Cox. “He takes those difficult carries and chews up a lot of metres for us.”
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