THE BLUES BUCK TO GLORY
NSW MAKES PBR ORIGIN HISTORY IN STUNNING SYDNEY DECIDER
First-ever Series win sees NSW crush Queensland's undefeated streak
For the first time in PBR Australia Origin Series history, New South Wales has crushed the mighty Maroons, silencing the Queensland streak and riding straight into the record books in front of a roaring hometown crowd at Sydney's ICC.
Vision, imagery and interviews here
The 2025 PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin Series decider delivered a heart-stopping, history-making showdown, as NSW’s fiercest proved they were no longer the underdogs, taking the win with 500.25 points (6 qualified rides) over Queensland’s 419.50 (5 qualified rides).
With standout efforts from Tyson Smith (Walcha), Dylan Weir (Tumut), Sam Woodall (VIC) and Joao Rigaard Franco (Brazil), the Blues brought precision and power, turning up the pressure and slamming the gate shut on Queensland’s reign.
Meanwhile, Queensland's Zane Hall (Athol) kept the crowd on edge, going 2-for-2 in the long rounds and clocking the night’s highest score to keep QLD in contention until the Championship Round. Rylee Ward’s 84.50 score on Zuece briefly put QLD ahead, and Woodall responded with everything he had and sealed victory for the Blues.
Luan Crystian Camara, the Brazilian bull-riding machine flying the flag for the Blues, claimed the Cowboy of Origin title with consistency, guts, and a crucial ride on Tropical Rash—taking home the $30,000 cheque and locking down his place as one of the PBR's elite.
Highlights from the Sydney Showdown:
- Event Winner: Zane Hall (QLD) with 170.50 points
- Top Rides (vision of both in link):
- Zane Hall (QLD) – War Drums for 85.50 points (Round 1)
- Sam Woodall (NSW/VIC) – Some Gave All for 85.50 points (Championship Round)
- Winning Bull: Alpha Blokes Warden – remains unridden, and the top bull of the 2025 season scoring 44.00.
- Round One: NSW 335.25 to QLD 67.75
- Round Two: NSW 414.75 to QLD 335.00
- Championship Round: Sam Woodall sealed the series with a score of 85.50
“The Blues brought everything tonight,” said Glen Young, PBR Australia Managing Director. “This is what Origin is about – grit, glory and the riders putting it all on the line. NSW have earned this win, and history’s been made in the centre of Sydney. It all came down to the heart of bull riding – those eight seconds of glory or chaos on elite bulls. Anything can happen — and it did last night!”
STANDINGS SHIFT
- Kurt Shephard remains No.1 on the national leaderboard despite a rare scoreless outing last night.
- Luan Crystian Camara stays right on his tail in 2nd.
- Zane Hall’s stellar Sydney showing launches him into the Top 5.
THE TEAMS:
QUEENSLAND
• 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, recently 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
NEW SOUTH WALES
• 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 added serious punch to the Blue charge
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. This all changed last night. 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.
NEXT UP:
Tasman Cup this Friday, 11th July at the Townsville 500.
Then, the Monster Energy Tour returns to Cairns on 19th July PBR Monster Energy Tour Cairns Invitational
Key Facts:
The 2025 PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin Series decider delivered a heart-stopping, history-making showdown, as NSW’s fiercest proved they were no longer the underdogs, taking the win with 500.25 points (6 qualified rides) over Queensland’s 419.50 (5 qualified rides).
Contact details:
Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]
