Australia’s best bull riders to showdown in Sydney for PBR Origin glory – July 5
Origin Decider Teams JUST Announced
And the tightest race in Cowboy of Origin history to come to a head
It all comes down to this. After splitting the first two rounds, the best of the best bull riders from Queensland and New South Wales are set for the ultimate Origin decider in Sydney on July 5, where state pride, grit, and glory are on the line. Queensland arrives undefeated in series history, but with NSW riding high after their history-making win in Brisbane, the stage is set for a showdown for the ages.
And if that’s not enough to light a fire under the Sydney showdown, get this — the Cowboy of Origin leaderboard has never been this close. With just two points separating the top three bull riders, it’s an all-out ride to the finish. Queensland bullrider Kurt Shephard from Mareeba leads the competition on 170 points, just two points ahead of Queensland’s Thomas Triplett and Blues’ Luan Crystian Camara.
“We have the tightest leaderboard for Cowboy of Origin in PBR Origin history, and with only two points separating the top three riders — it's anyone’s buckle. So, every ride, every second, and every point will count as the country’s best cowboys throwdown in the dirt for state pride in Sydney on July 5,” said Glen Young, PBR Australia Managing Director. “This is the PBR Monster Energy Origin Series — where the toughest riders from Queensland and New South Wales go head-to-head in a brutal test of courage, grit, and raw power,” “It’s eight seconds of chaos that means everything. Anything can happen — and usually does.”
TEAM QUEENSLAND — MAROON PRIDE, UNBREAKABLE STREAK
The mighty Maroons are unchanged and unshaken. With five Origin titles under their belts, this line-up blends experience, courage and the kind of grit that only Queensland can bring:
• Kurt Shephard — Mareeba’s finest and Australia’s No. 1 cowboy
• Ben Bode — Calliope’s all-grit cowboy with a serious hunger to win
• Thomas Triplett — Bungandarra’s bull-taming machine, drafted to the Oklahoma Wildcatters
• Bryn Francis — Moura’s determined force, all fire and focus
• Caiden Sandilands — Rockhampton’s cool-headed rising star
• Zane Hall — Athol’s high-impact adrenaline junkie
• Jack Keats — Cloncurry’s calm and calculated charger
• Rylee Ward — The Kiwi connection with serious Origin impact
• Nash Mellers — Gracemere’s young gun with ice in his veins
• Beau Willis — Bowen’s battler, tough as the bulls he rides
TEAM NEW SOUTH WALES — BLUE BLOODED, REVENGE READY
NSW makes two bold changes for Sydney, adding firepower to a side hungry to make history:
• Tyson Smith — Walcha’s determined drive and rising star
• Jack Rowlandson — Oberon’s steel-nerved slinger
• Dylan Weir — Tumut’s hard-charging force
• Clint Glass — Willow Tree’s quiet powerhouse
• Lauchlan Waters — South Australia’s cool contender
• Luan Crystian Camara — Brazil’s powerhouse of style and strength
• Diego Galdino — Explosive, experienced, and electric
• Alison Aguiar — Brazil’s fearless force, already making his mark
• Sam Woodall — NSW’s new warrior, ready to step into the Origin fire
• Joao Rigaard Franco — Brazilian talent returning to add serious punch to the Blue charge
JUNIORS TO RIDE FIRST!!!!
Before the big guns buck it out in the toughest series on the planet, the next generation of bull riding stars will take centre arena.
Eight junior riders — four from each state — will ride in a special exhibition ahead of the 2025 PBR Monster Energy Origin Series opener. These are the toughest young humans in the game, riding mini bulls with the same grit and heart you’ll see from the pros.
Riding for Team NSW:
- Sonny Heffernan (Singleton, 11yrs) – 2024 Pee Wee Mini Bulls Grand Final Winner and nephew of NSW Origin coach Cody Heffernan.
- Kassedy Carlon (Bundarra, 12yrs) – A big personality in a small frame, Kassedy took out the Junior Mini Bulls title in 2024 and brings energy for days.
- Darcy Wilton (Muswellbrook, 15yrs) – Steely focus and a cool head under pressure, Darcy is one to watch.
- Cody Sternbeck (Willow Tree, 17yrs) – At 17, Cody is knocking on the door of the pro ranks and has the skills to back it.
Flying the flag for Team QLD:
- Clayton Walker (Colosseum, 10yrs) – Young but fearless, Clayton’s got serious cowpoke courage.
- Wylie Roots (Duaringa, 12yrs) – A three-time PBR State of Origin Junior qualifier, Wylie’s already been to Texas USA to ride and is building a legacy with every bull he faces.
- Rex Walker (Colosseum, 15yrs) – The 2024 Senior Mini Bulls Grand Final Winner, Rex has been dominating the circuit and brings power and polish.
- Jaxsen Tremayne (Morayfield, 17yrs) – 2024 Rising Star and known for his determination, Jaxsen’s carving his own path to the top.
THE DECIDER: PBR Australia Presents: PBR Monster Energy Tour - ORIGIN III - Sydney
Jul 5 at 7:00 PM at ICC Sydney Theatre GET TICKETS
Origin History
Queensland has had a stranglehold on the PBR Origin trophy since the competition’s inception, winning all five series and allowing New South Wales to pick up just two event wins from the twelve matches. The Maroons took victory over the Blues in Sydney at the inaugural PBR Origin in 2019 and backed that up with a 2-0 win in the 2021 series. The 2022 and 2023 series went the way of Queensland 2-1, and in 2024, they scored a clean sweep of the matches to win 3-0. In 2021, Lachlan Slade picked up the inaugural Cowboy of Origin award for New South Wales after he went 3-from-4 across the long rounds. Queensland young-gun Qynn Andersen led all cowboys in 2022 with an incredible 5-from-6 performance across the series, and in 2023, Maroon’s skipper Aaron Kleier rode 4-from-6 to claim the top rider award. Last season, Queenslander Ben Bode took home the $30,000 bonus following his 3-from-6 effort across the series.
ABOUT PBR AUSTRALIA ORIGIN SERIES
The PBR Australia Origin Series is an electrifying state-versus-state bull riding competition, where top riders from New South Wales and Queensland face off in a thrilling trio of events. Modelled after the State of Origin rugby series, the Origin Series has quickly become one of the most anticipated highlights of the Professional Bull Riders Australia (PBRA) tour since its debut in 2019. As a central feature of the PBRA's annual schedule, which includes over 20 events nationwide, the PBR Origin Series plays a vital role in elevating bull riding in Australia. It also serves as an important pathway for emerging riders to progress to the international stage, further solidifying the series as a key part of PBRA’s commitment to growing the sport.
Key Facts:
THE DECIDER: PBR Australia Presents: PBR Monster Energy Tour - ORIGIN III - Sydney
Jul 5 at 7:00 PM at ICC Sydney Theatre GET TICKETS
Contact details:
Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]
