Maroon Hearts Broken in NRL – but Queensland Reigns in the PBR Arena
PBR Origin Hits Brisbane on June 7 for Round II
Queensland may have been crushed like a stubby on Caxton Street in last night's NRL State of Origin opener in Brisbane, with maroon tears flowing through Suncorp Stadium, but in the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) arena it's a whole different bucking story. Queensland reigns supreme and has never been beaten in the PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin Series. Next Saturday, this fierce rivalry in bull riding bucks into Brisbane for the 2025 PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin II, with Team NSW desperate to turn the tide and see if any of last night's blue power can rub off on the best bull riders in the state.
Back on Aussie soil, these boys are fierce competitors and are ready to throw down in Brisbane next Saturday night for PBR Origin II, making this already loaded rematch an unmissable clash of state pride, spine-rattling rides and elite-level rivalry. The mighty maroons PBR team drew first blood in Newcastle, taking out Origin I with 578.75 points to NSW's 418.5. But don't let the scoreboard fool you. It was a chute-to-final-horn slugfest.
"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." Who'll hit the dirt? Who'll stay on top? Will Queensland crush it on home soil, or will NSW fire back with Origin vengeance?
🎟️ TICKETS ON SALE NOW – JUNE 7, BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE GET TICKETS Be there for the bone-rattling, dust-flying, crowd-roaring spectacle that is PBR ORIGIN II.
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 II
Origin Stars x PBR Riders: The Matchup!
New South Wales
1. Dylan Edwards (Fullback & Origin I Man of the Match) = Tyson Smith (The Steady Rock) Edwards' calm control and game-winning plays earned him Man of the Match honours, just like Tyson Smith's steady, unshakable focus anchors the NSW PBR team. Both are rock-solid leaders who deliver under pressure.
2. Jarome Luai (Five-Eighth) = Jack Rowlandson (The Rising Star) Luai's electrifying moves sparkled on the field, matched by Jack Rowlandson's fearless, high-energy style in the arena — true game changers who thrive in the spotlight.
3. Liam Martin (Second Row) = Luan Crystian Camara (The Powerhouse) Martin's bulldozing runs and toughness echo Luan Crystian Camara's raw strength and fierce determination — NSW's physical powerhouses on and off the field.
Queensland:
1. Xavier Coates (QLD Winger) = Caiden Sandilands (Explosive Young Gun) Xavier's aerial acrobatics lit up Origin I last night – he's all power, speed, and clutch moments. Caiden is his perfect PBR match: young, bold, and built for highlight reels. Both fly high and land with impact.
2. Beau Fermor (QLD Second-Row) = Ben Bode (Reliable & Ruthless) Fermor's grunt and grind on the edge kept QLD in the fight. Bode brings the same workhorse energy – quiet, strong, always delivering. The kind of guy you want riding beside you when it gets rough.
3. Robert Toia (QLD Centre) = Kurt Shephard (Team Backbone) Toia was all heart and hustle – a rising star with fire in the belly. Kurt is the spiritual leader of this PBR squad, holding it down with grit, calm, and killer instincts. Both are the glue guys – no team wins without them.
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.
ORIGIN SCOREBOARD SO FAR
- 2019: Queensland
- 2020: Covid
- 2021: Queensland
- 2022: Queensland
- 2023: Queensland
- 2024: Queensland
2025 PBR MONSTER ENERGY ORIGIN SERIES
PBR Australia Presents: PBR Monster Energy Tour - ORIGIN II - Brisbane
Jun 7 at 7:00 PM at Brisbane Entertainment Centre GET TICKETS
PBR Australia Presents: PBR Monster Energy Tour - ORIGIN III - Sydney
Jul 5 at 7:00 PM at ICC Sydney Theatre GET TICKETS
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:
For the Maroon faithful still licking their wounds after last night's Blue blitz, swap the footy heartbreak for heart-pounding action next Saturday at Brisbane's PBR Origin II showdown. Queensland's toughest riders are ready to lock horns with NSW's best in a ripper of a battle — no holds barred, all grit and glory. The Maroons might've copped it on the field, but in the arena, Queensland's bull riders have never been beaten. This is raw power, pure guts, and edge-of-your-seat action on the backs of the world's wildest bulls. Be there for the thunder!!
