Blues take lead in series Nail-biting night as Team NSW comes out on top in Cairns PBR

l BULL RIDING

| Isaac Colman

AFTER a nail-biting night of head-to-head competition, Team New South Wales came out on top and turned the tables on Queensland, taking the win in front of a sold-out crowd at the PBR Origin Series’ final game in Cairns last weekend. Since the series’ beginning in 2019, Team Queensland has secured all four Origin victories after winning the first two rounds of 2023 in Newcastle and Brisbane.

The lead was finally taken by New South Wales’ Sam Woodall, delivering a performance that shot the Blues into the lead.

This Cairns Origin III event marks Team New South Wales’ first event win of the 2023 series.

PBR Australia general manager Glen Young said that the extraordinary night was a great way to end the series.

“New South Wales hasn’t had the greatest run since we started the Origin series, but the highlight for me was seeing Cody and those guys get the win, which will give them the confidence going into the 2024 Origin round,” he said.

“It really was neck and neck the entire night and came down to the final ride from Sam Woodall.

“It was great having the final Origin event leg in Cairns, where the atmosphere and support is always electric.”

With only a few events left until the final showdown, riders will now be looking to gain crucial points ahead of the grand finals in Townsville on November 3 and 4, which is the richest bullriding event in the southern hemisphere.

“It could be anyone’s race come the end of the year, and that $75,000 could be going to someone we don’t expect,” said Mr Young of the grand finals.

“The race is just starting. It’s been an awesome start to the season, and it’s been great to have so many bullriders back, but not only that, it’s great to see them getting their bulls ridden,” he said.

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