PBR Origin II: Blues & Bulls Triumph in Brisbane
Stage Set for Sydney Showdown
New South Wales sealed Origin II with 490.00 points (6 qualified rides), with Queensland on 481.74 points (6 qualified rides).
Event Winner: Kurt Shephard (Mareeba, QLD) — total 248 points
Highest Scoring Ride: Kurt Shephard on Tropical Rash — 86.00 points
Top Bull: Alpha Blokes Warden — Score 44.00 points
"Brisbane saw a seriously tough pen of bucking bulls that challenged both teams," said Glen Young, PBR Australia Managing Director. "It was a showcase of skill and courage from Australia's best bull riders, and some incredible athleticism from the bulls."
On the PBR Australia national leaderboard, Kurt Shephard remains in top form, while Brazil's Matheus Lima Rodrigues continues his charge up the rankings.
Queensland came out swinging in Round 1, racking up a team total of 233.25 points to NSW's 158.00 — but the Blues weren't about to let the Sunshine State ride away with another victory. Round 2 saw the bulls dominate, with only Tyson Smith (Walcha, NSW) and Zane Hall (Athol, QLD) securing points.
The Bonus Round lit the fuse for the night's final showdown: Alison Aguiar (NSW) opened with 84.25 points on Battle of the Roan, followed by successful rides from Zane Hall (QLD) and Jack Rowlandson (Oberon, NSW).
Matheus Lima Rodrigues' 82.50 ride on Jackie Red was challenged unsuccessfully by Queensland Coach Jared Borghero.
Then it was down to Queensland's Kurt Shephard — the current national No. 1 — to keep Queensland's undefeated Origin streak alive. But his attempt on Voodoo Doll came up short.
Alpha Blokes Warden once again proved a formidable opponent, with Shephard unable to conquer him in Round 2. But the Queensland champion is already eyeing redemption in Sydney.
While Queensland has never been beaten in the PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin Series, history could be made on July 5 if NSW can lock in a win on home soil. Expect a night of dust, dirt, and edge-of-your-seat action as the country's best bull riders battle it out in this ultimate clash of state pride and raw power.
"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," said Glen Young, PBR Australia Managing Director. "It's eight seconds of chaos that means everything — because this isn't just about personal glory. It's about state pride, and like footy, Origin is unpredictable. Anything can happen — and usually does."
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TEAM QUEENSLAND – MAROON PRIDE, UNBREAKABLE STREAK With five straight Origin titles under their buckles, the mighty Maroons are locked, loaded, and ready to protect the crown in hometown Brisbane with a line-up dripping in talent, tenacity and true grit:
• Kurt Shephard – Mareeba's finest and the current national No.1 • Ben Bode – Calliope's all-grit cowboy with a serious hunger to win • Thomas Triplett – Bungandarra's bull-taming machine • Bryn Francis – From Moura, riding like a man possessed • Caiden Sandilands – Rocky's rising star with ice-cool control • Zane Hall – Athol's high-impact adrenaline chaser • Jack Keats – Cloncurry's calm and calculated charger • Rylee Ward – The Kiwi connection, delivering a global edge • Nash Mellers – Gracemere's young gun with nerves of steel • Beau Willis – The Bowen battler and no stranger to the pressure cooker of Origin
TEAM NEW SOUTH WALES – BLUE BLOODED, REVENGE READY NSW has one goal – break the Maroon streak – and they're bringing a blend of homegrown heroes and international firepower to do it:
• Jack Brodrick – Bungendore's bold front-runner • 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 • Matheus Lima Rodrigues – The Brazilian bull-rider bringing the heat • Luan Crystian Camara – South American style and swagger • Diego Galdino – Explosive, experienced, electric • Alison Aguiar – Brazil's fearless new addition, stepping in to shake up Origin
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.
