📣 Saddle Up, Sydney: The Nation’s Toughest Cowboys Are Coming
PHOTO / VISION / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Australia’s Elite Bull Riders Face Off in Sydney Showdown
THIS FRIDAY AT 11.45am - Hickson Road Reserve, City
Ahead of NRL’s State of Origin comes the PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin III Decider – a Sydney Showdown for the ages set to explode in the dirt this Saturday – and ahead of the clash, media are invited to meet the riders going head-to-head in this epic Queensland vs New South Wales showdown.
ON Friday at 11.45am, catch four top riders plus a special guest international superstar – 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (USA) – as they preview Saturday’s battle for state pride and the prestigious Cowboy of Origin title, now tighter than ever.
With the series tied at 1–1, Origin III in Sydney this Saturday is the decider – and the rivalry is hotter than ever. Queensland has never lost a PBR Origin series… until now?
Vision opportunity with riders in full gear – arena action vision from Origin 1 and 2 available.
WHEN:
Friday 5 July, 11.45am
WHERE:
Hickson Road Reserve, City
TALENT AVAILABLE:
Team Queensland -
• Zane Hall – Athol’s high-impact adrenaline junkie
• Nash Mellers – Gracemere’s young gun with ice in his veins
Team New South Wales -
• Jack Rowlandson – Oberon’s steel-nerved slinger
• Joao Rigaard Franco – Brazilian-born rider bringing serious power to the Blue corner
🌟 Special Guest:
Daylon Swearingen (USA) – 2022 PBR World Champion, featured in The Ride (2023) and The Last Rodeo (2025). Known for his calm under pressure and fierce competitive edge, Daylon brings global star power to Sydney ahead of Origin III.
PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin SERIES
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.”
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.
For media information, contact Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]
Key Facts:
WHEN:
Friday 5 July, 11.45am
WHERE:
Hickson Road Reserve, City
TALENT AVAILABLE:
Team Queensland -
• Zane Hall – Athol’s high-impact adrenaline junkie
• Nash Mellers – Gracemere’s young gun with ice in his veins
Team New South Wales -
• Jack Rowlandson – Oberon’s steel-nerved slinger
• Joao Rigaard Franco – Brazilian-born rider bringing serious power to the Blue corner
🌟 Special Guest:
Daylon Swearingen (USA) – 2022 PBR World Champion, featured in The Ride (2023) and The Last Rodeo (2025). Known for his calm under pressure and fierce competitive edge, Daylon brings global star power to Sydney ahead of Origin III.
Contact details:
Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]