Hancock determined to bow out a winner
JILLAROOS co-captain Steph Hancock is determined to regain her Australian jersey and end her celebrated career with a World Cup victory after rebounding from a battle against depression.
Hancock was named on an extended bench for Friday’s Anzac Test against New Zealand and needs to force her way into the top 17 before the team is finalised following a clash against Burleigh on the Gold Coast tonight.
Front-rower Hancock revealed she thought about giving the game away last year but decided on a final hurrah in 2017 given her love of the game and her Queensland and Australian teammates.
The passionate Maroons captain last year said she would feel like quitting footy if Queensland lost their State of Origin clash given their 17year run of success.
But she said that was an offthe-cuff quip that had been taken too literally and that had only fired her to stay in the game.
“That was a bit of a media bomb that one,” she said.
“But here I am for my definite last year, there’s no takeback on that one.”
But Hancock did briefly consider giving the game away as she battled what she now recognises as depression.
“I went through a bit of a rough patch there where I didn’t want to even talk to anyone about footy,” Hancock admitted.
“I think it might have been a little bit of depression.
“I moved up to the Sunshine Coast at the start of 2016 and couldn’t get a transfer with work, so I was travelling from Crestmead to Golden Beach on a daily basis and then overtime on the top of that.
“It all got a bit much. I was going to give it all away.
“But I love the game too much and I love these girls and that’s why I’m here.
“So I’ve got my head back in the right space and I think that’s what’s been missing.”
Hancock has regained the fitness she believed let her game down last year and is pushing to regain her Jillaroos jersey to play both the Anzac Test and the World Cup.
And if she could couple those campaigns with a Maroons Origin victory, she says she would retire happily.
“This is 15 years, this year (that I’ve been playing football),” she said.
“I’ve got a little eight-yearold and I need to spend some family time, some quality time ... and it’s time to hang the boots up.”
Hancock expects a tough test against New Zealand if she wins selection given the Kiwis’ decision to overhaul their team following Australia’s domination at the Auckland Nines.