Richardson finished just one point behind New Zealander Fraser Babbington and Queenslander Brady Fielder who tied for first spot in an event first.

The jam-packed sell-out event attracted nine out of the 10 top ranked riders on the current 2019 Australian Standings, including last year's PBR Australia Champion Aaron Kleier (No.1), Singleton cowboy Cody Heffernan (No.3) and Fielder (No.3).

Babbington and Fielder came out on top each scoring 168.5 to share the title, while Richardson was third on 167.5.

Babbington went into the competition two-for-three since returning from injury with his only buck off coming courtesy of the unridden Tuff Territory at Last Cowboy Standing.

The 2015 PBR Australian National Champion had one of the match-ups of the night on Down Under and didn't disappoint the capacity Hunter crowd.

Fielder holds a dominant lead in the PBR Australia Rookie of the Year race having recently returned from North America where he recorded a win and a further six top 10 finishes in Canada.

He also made his Premier Series debut at Last Cowboy Standing in Cheyenne, Wyoming. His win last night in Newcastle further cements his lead as in the 2019 PBR Rookie of the Year Race.

The Newcastle and Hunter region was strongly represented by Singleton's Heffernan and Gresford brothers Lachlan and Cliff Richardson, who currently sit at No.5 and No.6 in the 2019 PBR Australia title race with Lachie coming out the best placed local rider on the night.

Heffernan took a rough fall on his first bull of the night and made the call to withdraw from the next round of competition.

"The hometown crowd at this Newcastle event always get behind their riders so well, and while Cliff had great support from the crowd it just wasn't his night. Bull riding is like that, sometimes it delivers diamonds - and sometimes it's dust," PBR Australia general manager Glen Young.