Stephanie Hancock (born 9 March 1982) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the St. George Illawarra Dragons Women in the NRL Women's Premiership.

Steph Hancock
Personal information
Full nameStephanie Hancock
Born (1982-03-09) 9 March 1982 (age 42)
Killarney, Queensland, Australia
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018–19 Brisbane Broncos 8 0 0 0 0
2020– St George Illawarra 10 0 0 0 0
2021–2023 Gold Coast Titans 22 8 0 0 32
Total 40 8 0 0 32
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–18 Australia 20 5 0 0 20
2004–20 Queensland 16 7 0 30
2011–17 Women's All Stars 7 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 1 November 2023

Primarily a prop, she is a Queensland and Australia representative, winning two World Cups in 2013 and 2017. She previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, winning two premierships in 2018 and 2019.

Background

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Born in Killarney, Queensland, Hancock played her junior rugby league for the Eastern Suburbs Hornets in Warwick.

Her father, Rohan, is a former Queensland and Australian representative.[2][3] They are the first ever father-daughter pair to represent Queensland and Australia.[4]

Playing career

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In 2003, Hancock made her Test debut for Australia at the 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup.[5] In 2004, she made her debut for Queensland in their win over New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium.[6] Hancock became a regular for both Australia and Queensland over the next 15 years, playing in nine straight wins for Queensland.[7]

In 2008, she played in her second World Cup, with Australia losing 0–34 to New Zealand in the final.[8] On 14 July 2013, Hancock was a member of the Australian side that defeated New Zealand 22–12 in the World Cup final at Headingley Rugby Stadium.[9]

On 7 November 2014, she was named captain of Australia, a position she held until 2017, replacing the retiring Karyn Murphy.[10] On 2 December 2017, she started at prop for Australia in their 23–16 World Cup final win over New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium.[11]

2018

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In June, Hancock represented Queensland Country at the inaugural Women's National Championships.[12] On 21 June, she signed with the Brisbane Broncos NRL Women's Premiership team.[13]

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, Hancock made her debut in the Broncos' 30–4 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons. On 30 September, she came off the bench in the Broncos' 34–12 Grand Final win over the Sydney Roosters.[14]

2019

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In May, she represented Queensland Country at the Women's National Championships.[15] On 6 October, she came off the bench in the Broncos' 30–6 Grand Final win over the Dragons.[16]

2020

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On 24 September, Hancock joined the St George Illawarra Dragons for the 2020 NRL Women's season.[17]

On 13 November, Hancock scored a try in Queensland's 24–18 State of Origin win over New South Wales.[18] She retired from representative rugby league following the match, her 16th for Queensland.[19]

Achievements and accolades

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Individual

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  • QRL Representative Player of the Year: 2013, 2018

Team

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References

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  1. ^ "Steph Hancock - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  2. ^ Walsh, Gerard (4 May 2015). "Jillaroos defeat Kiwi Ferns 22-14". The Queensland Times. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  3. ^ "How the daughters of Wally Lewis and Rohan Hancock are making their own history". Gold Coast Bulletin. 20 September 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020.
  4. ^ Newton, Alicia (11 December 2019). "Legend Q&A: Stephanie Hancock". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020.
  5. ^ McDonald, Zara (1 December 2017). "Women in footy: Mum and police officer Steph Hancock tells us what it's really like". Mama Mia. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  6. ^ Walsh, Gerald (21 June 2018). "State of Origin double for family on Southern Downs". Warwick Daily News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  7. ^ Webeck, Tony (18 July 2016). "'If Queensland lose I'll give it away'". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  8. ^ Gardiner, Peter; Walsh, Gerard (8 November 2008). "World Cup victory for Stephanie, Jo". Warwick Daily News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  9. ^ Walsh, Gerard (15 July 2013). "Jillaroos win women's rugby league World Cup". The Queensland Times. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Hancock named Jillaroos captain". Queensland Rugby League. 7 November 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Australia sink New Zealand to retain Women's Rugby League Cup". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  12. ^ Newton, Alicia (29 May 2018). "Women's Nationals the perfect Origin appetiser". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Four More NRLW Signings". Brisbane Broncos. 21 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020.
  14. ^ Hancock Lost For Words After Winning NRLW Grand Final. Brisbane Broncos. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  15. ^ Newton, Alicia (22 May 2019). "Line-ups named for Women's National Championships". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  16. ^ Kennedy, Chris (6 October 2019). "NRLW grand final: Broncos player ratings". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Dragons confirm 2020 NRL Women's Premiership squad". St. George Illawarra Dragons. 24 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Queensland Maroons rookies upstage NSW Blues in Women's State of Origin clash". Sporting News. 16 November 2020. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  19. ^ Balym, Todd (14 November 2020). "Maroons great Hancock retires from rep footy a winner". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
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