MAROON MISSION

Hancock has one last game for Qld

RUGBY LEAGUE: Former Killarney junior Stephanie Hancock wants to go out a winner when she lines up for her last Interstate Challenge game against New South Wales at Wollongong on Sunday.

Hancock has already announced this will be her last interstate game and she will pack down in the front row with former Scots PGC student Heather Ballinger, who is expected to play on next season.

The Maroons lost the Nellie Doherty Cup to the Blues for the first time in 18 years last season. That, and playing her last game for Queensland, give Hancock (pictured) plenty of motivation.

“I felt like we let down every player from the past when we lost last season,” Hancock said. “I am still hurting, the only way to fix it is to win on Sunday.

“This is my last season and I have been putting in the hard yards at training.

“I want to win this game and then win the World Cup at the end of this season with the Australian Jillaroos. Then I will be happy.”

She sees some similarities between the long success of Queensland women’s and men’s teams.

“The Maroons women have the Jillaroos spine, hooker Brittany Breayley, half Ali Brigginshaw and five-eighth Zahara Temara. Our fullback Karina Brown plays on the wing for the Jillaroos,” she said.

“I don’t know what it is but everyone shows up in defence when needed, just like the boys.”

Hancock first played rugby league in the under eights for Eastern Suburbs and was also a talented athlete growing up.

She and Ballinger had plenty of battles in athletics field events before teaming up in rugby league.

After she left school, Hancock won an Australian open title in javelin before a women’s rugby league game held on the Southern Downs. She played and within a year was playing for Queensland and Australia.