Class players are leading the way in Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League

Former NRL player Todd Carney played his first game of the season in a 30-20 win over defending premiers Cudgen at Red Devil Park.

He was injured playing for Northern Rivers in a preseason representative game.

Carney and five-eighth Brett Kelly had a hand in most tries with the likes of Toby Marks and Jack Rogers missing from the halves.

The win puts Byron Bay back on top of the ladder and sets up another big game with Bilambil this weekend.

The Kyogle Turkeys were thumped 60-0 against a rampaging Evans Head Bombers who are now second on the ladder.

The Turkeys have not won a game this season, despite some significant signings in the offseason.

Kyogle was missing fullback Oliver Regan and will need a win over Lower Clarence to avoid a third straight wooden spoon.

Evans Head winger Brandon Anderson scored four tries and reminded the competition what he is capable of out wide.

He has scored eight tries from his last three games and is equal-leading try-scorer with centre Torben Milton who has scored 11 tries.

Last year Anderson finished the season with 20 tries and he looks set to be around that number again.

TWO 12-all draws this season in a competition where a couple of extra points on a tight ladder

There was still a lot to like about how they got back into the game against Murwillumbah on the weekend and they had a chance to win it with a field goal after being behind for most of the game.

Captain Mitchell Krause forced his way over for two determined tries which most centres in the competition would have struggled to get.

The forward pack is punching above its weight with Lock Nathan Stewart and second-rowers Jack Elmore and Lennon Bartlett while Sam McRea adds plenty off the bench.

This weekend is Naidoc round for the Rams and they will wear specially designed jerseys with five of them auctioned after the game.

The rest of the jerseys will be auctioned at the Civic Hotel on Friday, July 26.

Former NRL player Michael Gordon helped his side to a surprise 26-16 win over Ballina last weekend.

The Raiders have a decent team on paper, but are down near the bottom of the ladder.

Gordon scored an early try from fullback and Tweed Coast were up 16-0 before Ballina had fired a shot.

The 40-year-old has said this will be has final season with the Raiders a long shot of playing finals.

Marist Brothers v Lower Clarence at Crozier Field (Saturday).

Tweed Coast v Mullumbimby at Les Burger Field, Cabarita

Northern United v Casino at Crozier Field, Lismore

Kyogle v Murwillumbah at New Park, Kyogle

Bilambil v Byron Bay at Bilambil East Sports Field

Cudgen v Evans Head at Ned Byrne Field, Kingslcliff.

Byron Bay 17, Evans Head 16, Ballina 16, Bilambil 14, Cudgen 14, Northern United 12, Marist Brothers 12, Murwillumbah 11, Casino 9, Mullumbimby 8, Tweed Coast 7, Kyogle 2, Lower Clarence 2.