The team captain is Singleton's Cody Heffernan and he is joined by another local Trefor Sproule, from Gresford Lachlan Richardson and from Dungog Thomas Hudson and Oscar Leake.

Modelled after the State of Origin rugby series, the trio of events will see a 10-rider roster each represent Team New South Wales and Team Queensland at the state vs. state bull riding showdown.

Following this weekend's event in Newcastle, Origin II will take place in Tamworth on April 23 before closing in Brisbane on May 21, where the nation's supreme bull riding powerhouse will be determined.

Team Queensland have dominated the dirt since the series inception in 2019, securing two origin victories under their belt. Four-time PBR Australia Champion, Aaron Kleier, will captain Team Queensland, where he will be joined by some of the league's standout riders including current No. 3, Kelsey Pavlou, who will return to Team Queensland for the second time in his career as a top contender for the 2022 PBR Australia Championship.

PBR Australia General Manager, Glen Young, says there are also some standout "young guns" joining Team Queensland this year, all of whom are eager to defend Queensland's reigning title.

"Brumby Brandenburg will make his Origin debut fresh off earning his career-first event win in Mildura, where he recorded the first two qualified rides of his PBR career and catapulted to No. 5 in the race for the 2022 PBR Australia Championship," says Mr Young.

"Close behind him is 18-year-old, Qynn Andersen, who is currently ranked No. 6. He made his PBR debut in 2021 and is also set to make his PBR Origin debut this weekend in Newcastle."

Despite the new additions to Team Queensland, Team New South Wales are determined to earn their first PBR Origin Championship this year, with 2016 PBR Australia Champion, Cody Heffernan, leading the team as captain.

Whilst Team New South Wales has fallen short in previous years, Mr Young says they have various veteran riders on their 2022 roster including seven-time PBR World Finals qualifier, Lachlan Richardson, who first rode with the Blues in 2021, and Lachlan Slade, who made history at the 2021 Cairns Invitational when he recorded the first-ever 90-point ride of both the event and his career.

"Lachlan Richardson and Lachlan Slade will both bring veteran experience to the Team New South Wales roster," continues Mr Young.

"Will Purcell will also return to Team New South Wales for the first time since the inaugural PBR Origin in 2019. He has already registered two Top 10 finishes thus far in 2022 including placing third at the recent Mildura event and is currently ranked No.7 in the race for the PBR Australia Championship.

"Whilst the young Team Queensland riders will spice up the competition, the veteran riders on Team New South Wales bring experience from their prior Origin events, so it really is anyone's game."

Mr Young says the Origin series will play a crucial role in determining who will qualify for the Monster Energy PBR Australia Grand Finals occurring in Townsville in November, which is the richest bull riding event in the entire southern hemisphere.

"The PBR Origin Champion will be the team that wins two or more events in the series, and the event winner will be the team with the highest combined score in the event aggregate," continues Mr Young.

"There is up to $30,000 in prize money up for grabs at the first two Origin events and $40,000 on the line in Brisbane. The best rider of the series gets a $20,000 bonus and this year's Monster Energy PBR Australian Champion will receive a $50,000 year-end bonus.

"We're looking forward to the first Origin event in Newcastle this weekend and seeing which State will take out the first win of the series."

TEAM NEW SOUTH WALES

TEAM QUEENSLAND