2026 PBR Monster Energy Origin Series
PBR Australia Presents: PBR Monster Energy Origin I - NEWCASTLE
May 30 at 7:00 PM at Newcastle Entertainment Centre
PBR Monster Energy Origin I tickets | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | Ticketek Australia
NEWCASTLE SET FOR A BLOCKBUSTER START TO 2026 PBR ORIGIN SERIES
Queensland out for revenge, NSW out for 2 from 2
PBR Australia Presents: Monster Energy Origin I – Newcastle
May 30, 7:00PM | Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Ticketek Australia
The toughest rivalry in Australian sport returns to the chutes on MAY 30, with Newcastle set to host the opening clash of the 2026 PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin Series, where state pride, raw power and eight seconds of chaos collide.
The teams have officially been announced, with both the Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues assembling stacked line-ups of elite riders ready to go head-to-head in one of sport’s most brutal and unpredictable arenas. 2025 ORIGIN vision, imagery and interviews here
Fresh off history in 2025, the pressure now sits firmly on New South Wales after claiming their first-ever PBR Origin Series title in a dramatic Sydney decider, and proving it was no one-off performance. But Queensland arrives in 2026 with a rebuilt, reinvigorated squad determined to bring the trophy back across the border.
Last year’s Origin finale delivered one of the most electric nights in Australian bull riding history, with the Blues defeating Queensland 500.25 points to 419.50, notching six qualified rides to the Maroons’ five. Now, the rematch begins on neutral ground in Newcastle.
The 2026 series kicks off at Newcastle Entertainment Centre on May 30, before heading to Brisbane on June 6, and culminating in Sydney on August 1. Tickets are on sale now.
Queensland’s charge is led by a powerhouse roster featuring reigning Australian Champion Kurt Shephard (Mareeba), world-class talents Macaulie Leather (Calliope) and Donnie Rutherfurd (Mount Isa) — both returning from standout US campaigns ahead of Origin — alongside Zane Hall (Athol), Boston Leather (Calliope) and Ben Bode (Calliope).
New South Wales enters the opener with equal firepower, boasting returning Origin standouts Sam Woodall (Heywood), Clint Glass (Willow Tree), Dylan Weir (Tumut), Jack Rowlandson (Oberon) and Lachlan Slade (Tamworth), as well as international reinforcements Keny Roger and Alison Aguiar from Brazil.
Queensland will once again be guided by coach Jared Borghero, the former bull rider turned elite protection athlete known for his uncompromising approach, while NSW is led by Lachlan Richardson, seven-time PBR World Finals qualifier and one of the sport’s most respected competitors.
On reviewing the teams, PBR Australia’s Simon Mallory said the Newcastle event will see both teams come out firing!
“Queensland has Macaulie Leather fresh back from competing in the USA World Championships, in superior form however he will need to hit the practice pen to reconnect with the Aussie Bulls bucking style. His brother Boston dominated Nowra, and looks to be back in form,” he said. “The northern duo of Leith and Kurt is a powerful one - Kurt on a mission for back to back Australian titles, Leith in his pocket learning everything he can and producing the goods, and there’s Donnie Rutherford coming back from the USA which gives another HUGE boost for the team”
“New South Wales rider Sam Woodall is so hot right now he has to be careful where goes to not cause a bushfire! He was dominant in the recent Sydney Meatstock and looks good for Newcastle, and Dylan Weir is riding like the Cowboy of Origin cheque is already his.”
“The seasoned veterans of Clint, Toby, Lachlan Slade are no strangers to pressure and pulling of high scoring rides while the new Brazilian Keny Roger is as good as we’ve seen from the internationals in the last few years, and putting serious heat on Kurt for end of year Gold Buckle.”
TEAM QUEENSLAND
Coach: Jared Borghero
- Macaulie Leather – Calliope, QLD
- Kurt Shephard – Mareeba, QLD
- Donnie Rutherfurd – Mount Isa, QLD
- Zane Hall – Athol, QLD
- Ethan Coster – Miriam Vale, QLD
- Kelsey Pavlou – Toora, VIC
- Boston Leather – Calliope, QLD
- Ky Borghero – Proserpine, QLD
- Ben Bode – Calliope, QLD
- Leith Malone – Mareeba, QLD
Alternates:
- Thomas Triplett – Bungundarra, QLD
- Dawson Foden – Moura, QLD
TEAM NEW SOUTH WALES
Coach: Lachlan Richardson
- Keny Roger – Brazil
- Sam Woodall – Heywood, VIC
- Clint Glass – Willow Tree, NSW
- Colby Edgar – Tamworth, NSW
- Dylan Weir – Tumut, NSW
- Jack Rowlandson – Oberon, NSW
- Toby Collins – Maldon, VIC
- Alison Aguiar – Brazil
- Thomas Hudson – Dungog, NSW
- Lachlan Slade – Tamworth, NSW
Alternates:
- Thomas Hudson – Dungog, NSW
- Charlie Bailey – Oberon, NSW
2025 ORIGIN vision, imagery and interviews here
JUNIORS TO RIDE IN THE SPOTLIGHT FIRST!!!!
Before the big guns buck it out, the next generation of bull riding stars will take centre arena. Junior riders will compete at all three Origin events in Newcastle, Brisbane and Sydney, with teams of four selected from the 2025 PBR Australia Can-Am Junior Academy. Aged between nine and 17, these rising stars will go head-to-head in one of the fiercest rivalries in Australian sport, just on a smaller, but no less determined, scale.
Team Queensland
- Lane Cross (Bundaberg, QLD) – 17 years
- Chase Wieland (Gympie, QLD) – 14 years (second time representing – 2024)
- Wylie Roots (Duaringa, QLD) – 13 years (third time representing – 2024, 2025)
- Jasper Wieland (Gympie, QLD) – 9 years
Team New South Wales
- Liam Birks (Tamworth, NSW) – 16 years
- Kassedy Carlon (Bundarra, NSW) – 13 years (third time representing – 2024, 2025)
- Nash Goddard (Glendon Brook, NSW) – 12 years
- Chase Berry (Gunnedah, NSW) – 10 years
“The Can-Am Junior Academy is more than a ride or a series; it’s the breeding ground for the next generation of champions. These young athletes are born for this and represent the future of bull riding in Australia. Bringing them into the Origin Series gives them even more experience, this time riding bulls as a team.”
PBR Monster Energy Origin Series – THE SCOREBOARD SO FAR!
- 2019: Queensland
- 2020: Covid year
- 2021: Queensland
- 2022: Queensland
- 2023: Queensland
- 2024: Queensland
- 2025: News South Wales
2026 PBR Monster Energy Origin Series
PBR Australia Presents: PBR Monster Energy Origin I - NEWCASTLE
May 30 at 7:00 PM at Newcastle Entertainment Centre
PBR Monster Energy Origin I tickets | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | Ticketek Australia
PBR Australia Presents: PBR Monster Energy Origin II – BRISBANE
June 6 at 7:00 PM at Brisbane Entertainment Centre
PBR Monster Energy Origin II tickets | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | Ticketek Australia
PBR Australia Presents: PBR Monster Energy Origin II – SYDNEY
August 1 at 7:00 PM at TikTok Entertainment Centre, Sydney
PBR Monster Energy Origin III tickets | TikTok Entertainment Centre | Ticketek Australia
2025 ORIGIN SERIES vision, imagery and interviews here
WHERE AND WHEN TO SEE AUSTRALIA’S BEST BULL RIDERS IN 2026
All event detail can be found here: Schedule — The Professional Bull Riders
ABOUT PBR AUSTRALIA
Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is one of the fastest-growing sports properties in the world, with tours across the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. A subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings —which also owns UFC and WWE— has transformed bull riding into a premier international sport since its founding in 1992. The organisation features over 1,000 riders globally and hosts more than 200 events annually worldwide. In Australia, Professional Bull Riders Australia (PBRA) stages more than 20 events each year, attracting over 75,000 fans. PBRA showcases key events and tours such as the Monster Energy Tour, PBR Origin Series, and PBR Grand Finals, while also partnering with regional event organisers through the PBR Touring Pro Division. The organisation supports emerging talent through its Can-Am Junior Academy and serves as an international pathway to the United States circuit for both Junior and Open competition athletes. For more information, visit www.pbraustralia.com.au.
For media information, contact Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]
Contact details:
Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]
