BROOKLYN, N.Y. — With a guy like 2024 World Champion Cassio Dias on the roster, it’s easy for fans to look past some of the other competitors fueling the Kansas City Outlaws.

Rightfully so, as the 22-year-old regularly demands attention for rank rides and fan-forward celebrations. He’s entertainment at the fullest and just fun to watch.

Spirited dancing and suspenders have never meshed so well!

But with the talented Brazilian experiencing a bit of a slump lately, now rideless in his last six attempts, it’s been the likes of Sandro Batista, Koltin Hevalow and teammates who have stepped up lately.

While both of the cowboys spent the 2023 campaign with J.W. Hart’s group, it was one of the squad’s newcomers who sealed the deal Saturday night inside Barclays Center.

That man is Brennon Eldred, who helped the orange and black unit stay above the .500 mark as the Outlaws exited the first PBR Teams: Maverick Days with a 5-4 record.

“Man it feels good because we should’ve won every game we’ve played in so far but that’s just how it goes sometimes. When the getting gets tough, that’s when we have to come together as a team and that’s what we did today,” Eldred said.

“It just shows the resilience that we have and to just never lose sight of what we want to do. We woke up this morning, got together at 8:30 and grinded it out just like we do every day. We just have to keep doing the same thing.”

Having suffered an unideal 260.25-0 to the hometown New York Mavericks, who enjoyed their time in Brooklyn, New York, as the season’s first hosts to go undefeated during their respective homestand, the Outlaws knew it was time to bounce back.

RELATED: New York Mavericks conclude first-ever PBR Teams homestand in Brooklyn, New York, with big win over Florida Freedom

But it’s never fun rallying the troops after dropping a game to the league’s then No. 9-ranked team. Especially when the team produced a goose egg on their half of the scoreboard.

“This morning there was a lot of us that didn’t really feel like it but those are the days that make champions. You just have to keep pressing forward and it’ll come to fruition if you keep putting in the work. That’s just what our focus is right now: to be consistent with our work.”

When things are going well for Kansas City, their locker room has had a reputation for being one of the more spirited and well-bonded groups on tour.

When things aren’t going so hot for the J.W. Hart-coached squad, a bit of self-reflection and some quiet time has helped the team press the reset button. Which was exactly the case Saturday when they posted a tight 172.5-86.75 win over the Arizona Ridge Riders.

“It is (a passionate, dedicated group) and it’s one way or the other. If we lose, it’s not good. It’s not an atmosphere that you like to be in. But it’s what makes us stronger,” he said.

“When we win, you won’t find a better room to be in. It’s just kind of black and white in that room and everybody understands that and gets that. We just want to win every time we get the chance to.”

Thankfully for Hart and company, it was much lighter in the locker room Saturday night following the win.

Mostly, thanks to the veteran-savvy Eldred.

Teaming up with the aforementioned Batista to secure the win, it was technically Eldred’s qualified ride which served as the game-winner, as the Brazilian’s 85-pointer aboard Midnight Magic wouldn’t have been enough to clinch the win.

Going the distance for 87.5 points atop Johnny Rocket to ditch a four-out buckoff streak, the 29-year-old was rather familiar with both his bovine opponent and stock contractor. But he’s never worried about which animal athletes he gets matched with this summer.

“I’ve seen that bull growing up through the futurity system and I kind of knew what he was and knew where he came from, a good friend, Gene Baker. It really doesn’t matter which one they put us on,” Eldred added.

“The coaches picked the bulls last night and at the end of the day you’re going to get tested by every single bull here. It’s not really about which bull you draw, it’s about showing up and doing your job.”

Improving to 3-for-7 on the year, which includes a pair of qualified rides in each of his first two career PBR Teams attempts, the Outlaws have now won two of the three games in which he’s converted.

Of course, it’s taken some time to adjust not only to the 5-on-5 format and associated pressures, but the fact that he took the past two years off recovering from injuries and spending time with his family (more on that later this season!). But if he can continue to knock down roughly half of his bulls, he’ll remain a regular in the lineup. And locker room.

He may not have as much experience as some of the league’s riders who are enjoying their third season on the PBR Camping World Team Series circuit. But he’s got a good group of guys he’s been working with every day. And a pair of coaches who will make sure they get the most out of him and each of the men rocking the Outlaws crest.

“It’s really cool and I think it’s helping to take bull riding to another level. We’ve got some accountability now versus before when we were kind of on our own and did whatever we wanted to do. Now, we’ve got some accountability and they count on us. If you don’t walk the line and do what you’re supposed to then you can go somewhere else. That brings a whole new meaning to it, and that’s opened my eyes a lot. It’s really driven me to be better. Not just as a bull rider, but as a human being,” Eldred shared.

“Being around J.W. and Guilherme (Marchi) every day, the guys I grew up watching … Well, I actually got to ride with Guilherme at the end of his career. Just being around them every week. It’s just cool to think I’m 50 miles down the road from J.W. — Cassio, Julio (Cesar Marques), Sandro, all those guys stay right there, so we get to come together as a team every week and I think that’s really special. Day in and day out being around your teammates, being around your coaches just always getting pushed.”

We’ve seen the Carolina Cowboys take a similar, family-first approach over the last year or so. The family in the locker room and the families that the riders go home to. Everyone is all in the same picture, possibly one of the biggest reasons both of the squads are off to productive starts once again in 2024 (with Carolina atop the league standings and Kansas City holding down the No. 3 spot).

RELATED: Carolina Cowboys winning, riding together amidst 7-0-1 start

Set to square off with the (4-4) Oklahoma Wildcatters and the (5-3) Austin Gamblers Aug. 16-18 during the third PBR Teams: Stampede Days in Nashville, Tennessee, will Eldred come in clutch once again?

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media