NRLW 2023: Gold Coast Titans veteran Steph Hancock reveals devastating tragedy before round 1

The past week has been one of the toughest of NRLW legend Steph Hancock’s life as she deals with the tragic death of a close friend. This is how the Titans veteran played through the pain.

Amber Hall in action for New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

She’s a warrior in more ways than one.

At 41, Steph Hancock is still keeping up with Gold Coast teammates half her age.

But the past week has been one of the toughest of her life as she deals with the tragic death of a close friend.

At times like these many would go into hiding or take time away to cope, but Hancock’s method of dealing with difficulty is to turn to rugby league.

Being with her teammates is her coping mechanism.

“Last week, I lost one of my mates, but I can turn to football and my whole world is still functioning. I have all my teammates and that club at the Titans is so beautiful,” she says.

“Honestly, there’s no place I’d rather be.”

The former Australian and Queensland frontrower played through her devastating grief in the Titans opening round 16-6 win against North Queensland on Saturday.

She kept the pain close to her heart but put in a performance to be proud of with 75 metres from seven runs, two tackle-breaks and an offload to look as good as she ever has.

There’s a joke going around that she’s had more farewell tours than John Farnham, but for right now she’s still a big contributor in off-field culture and on field performances for the Titans.

Steph Hancock played through the pain last week. Picture: Getty Images/Getty

“I always hear the comeback tours, the Johnny Farnham thing. Recently I’m a fine white wine because I work in a dungeon and always wearing long pants, so my skin colour is very pale at the moment,” she says.

“But honestly, I love this game and the people. I just can’t give it away.

“This is probably the best I’ve felt in a pre-season, which is silly. I’m 41 years old.

“But I’m really enjoying the younger players at the Titans, it feels like I’m back at high school.”

She credits her good form and fitness to a longer NRLW pre-season this year, which is one of the big innovations of the women’s game as it moves towards professionalism.

Hancock has played at the top level for the past 20 years and has seen every season of growth.

“Everything about the game has evolved so much and it’s only going to get better,” she says.

“The girls just got $30k to go and play in a World Cup for their country, and people say to me, ‘you paid $5k to play for Australia, doesn’t that piss you off?’

“But no, I was a part of, and all those senior players who came before me, what we did, you can appreciate where we are now and I’m grateful for experiencing it all, especially without social media. It’s a beautiful thing.

Steph Hancock in Australian colours. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Steph Hancock is a Maroons stalwart. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“A lot of people, mainly blokes, are coming up to me and saying ‘geez, I love watching the women’s game more than the men’, and I don’t think people are just saying that. That comment is becoming more and more common.

“It’s only going to get better and that excites the shit out of me.”

But with everything going on her life right now, focusing on Brisbane at The Gabba on Thursday night has been her next big distraction.

The Titans won their first derby 28-26 at the start of last year, but lost the follow-up clash 22-4 in September last year.

The Broncos are fresh off an opening round loss to Sydney Roosters on the Sunshine Coast and will be desperate to open their season against their arch rivals.

The Titans sit in the top five along with Cronulla, Newcastle, Roosters, and Wests Tigers who all scored a win last week, leaving competition newcomers Cowboys, and Raiders yet to score a maiden victory.

Parramatta are again without star duo Elsie Albert and Rachael Pearson and will face the Dragons on Saturday with both clubs looking for their first win of the season.

Meanwhile, the first double header of the season will be at Belmore Oval on Sunday with the Knights taking on the Cowboys and the ladder-leading Tigers hosting the Sharks.

NRLW RND 2 TEAM NEWS

NRLW premiership favourites Sydney Roosters have been handed a major blow early in the season with star forward Amber Hall ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Scans have confirmed the New Zealand international suffered a Lisfranc foot injury in the club’s emphatic 36-18 win over Brisbane in round 1.

The 28-year-old hobbled from the field and was visibly upset on the sidelines, with scans this week showing major damage to the foot that will rule her out for the rest of the NRLW season.

Roosters coach John Strange said he was deeply disappointed for Hall, who is a new addition to the club this season after leaving her long-term spot at the Broncos.

“Amber is a high quality player who worked incredibly hard during the pre-season so it’s disappointing for her season to have been cut short,” Strange said.

“We will continue to support Amber during her recovery and will look to bring another player into our squad in the coming weeks.”

Amber Hall in action for New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Gold Coast five-eighth Taliah Fuimaono could play as soon as Thursday night’s Queensland derby with Brisbane after scans allayed fears of a serious ankle injury.

Tests on Monday have revealed only minor ligament damage in the 24-year-old’s left ankle which was injured with no contact at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Jillaroos and NSW star raised fears her season could be over when she was carried from the field in the Titans’ 16-6 victory over North Queensland in the opening round of the NRLW.

However, she’s been named on the extended bench for Thursday night’s clash against rivals the Broncos at The Gabba.

NRLW ROUND 2

Broncos v Titans

Thursday, 5.40pm, The Gabba, Brisbane

Broncos: 1 Hayley Maddick, 2 Lauren Dam, 3 Mele Hufanga, 4 Shenae Ciesiolka, 5 Ashleigh Werner, 6 Gayle Broughton, 7 Ali Brigginshaw, 8 Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala, 9 Destiny Brill, 10 Chelsea Lenarduzzi, 11 Tazmin Gray, 12 Romy Teitzel, 13 Mariah Denman, 14 Jada Ferguson, 15 Breanna Eales, 16 Brianna Clark. 17 Lavinia Gould, 18 Jasmine Fogavini, 19 Toni Hunt, 20 Grace Griffin, 21 Keisha-Leigh Coolwell

Titans: 1 Evania Pelite, 2 Destiny Mino-Sinapati, 3 Jaime Chapman, 4 Niall Williams-Guthrie, 5 Emily Bass, 6 Chantay Kiria-Ratu, 7 Sienna Lofipo, 8 Shannon Mato, 9 Lauren Brown, 10 Jessika Elliston, 11 Zara Canfield, 12 Shaylee Bent, 13 Georgia Hale, 14 Brittany Breayley-Nati, 15 Stephanie Hancock, 16 Kaitlyn Phillips, 17 Laikha Clarke, 18 Rilee Jorgensen, 19 Sophie Buller, 20 Dannii Perese, 21 Sienna Laing, 22 Taliah Fuimaono

TEAM NEWS

Broncos: The Broncos have named Ash Werner ahead of her judiciary hearing for biting on Tuesday night, while Jillaroos winger Julia Robinson is also out of action with a hamstring injury.

Titans: Emily Bass has been named to play the Broncos on Thursday night, while Taliah Fuimaono has been named on an extended bench as she manages an ankle injury picked up in round 1. Scans have confirmed good news for the Jillaroos half with minor grade ligament damage. In her place, Queensland under 19s star Sienna Lofipo has been named to start.

Raiders v Roosters

Saturday, 12.50pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders: 1 Apii Nicholls, 2 Madison Bartlett, 3 Cheyelle Robins-Reti, 4 Mackenzie Wiki, 5 Shakiah Tungai, 6 Zahara Temara (C), 7 Ash Quinlan, 8 Tommaya Kelly-Sines, 9 Chanté Temara, 10 Sophie Holyman, 11 Monalisa Soliola, 12 Hollie-Mae Dodd, 13 Simaima Taufa (c), Interchange: 14 Emma Barnes, 15 Grace Kemp, 16 Kerehitina Matua, 17 Tara Reinke, 18 Elise Smith, 19 Ahlivia Ingram, 20 Ella Ryan, 21 Ua Ravu, 22 Jessica Gentle

Roosters: 1 Corban Baxter, 2 Brydie Parker, 3 Jessica Sergis, 4 Isabelle Kelly (c), 5 Jayme Fressard, 6 Tarryn Aiken, 7 Jocelyn Kelleher, 8 Millie Boyle, 9 Keeley Davis, 10 Mya Hill-Moana, 11 Otesa Pule, 12 Olivia Kernick, 13 Keilee Joseph, Interchange: 14 Shawden Burton, 15 Pani Hopoate, 16 Alexandrea Kiriwi, 17 Joeli Morris, 18 Teuila Fotu-Moala, 19 Lily Rogan, 20 Tyler Bentley, 21 Amalia Pasikala

TEAM NEWS

Raiders: No changes for the Raiders ahead of their first home game for the NRLW side.

Roosters: Star prop Amber Hall has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a Lisfranc foot injury she sustained in the Roosters’ opening round victory over Brisbane.

Dragons v Eels

Saturday, 3.10pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Dragons: 1 Teagan Berry, 2 Margot Vella, 3 Keele Browne, 4 Bobbi Law, 5 Cortez Te Pou, 6 Tyla Nathan-Wong, 7 Raecene McGregor (c), 8 Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, 9 Renee Targett, 10 Roxy Murdoch-Masila, 11 Sara Sautia, 12 Shenai Lendill, 13 Alexis Tauaneai, Interchange: 14 Kaarla Cowan, 15 Ella Koster, 16 Tara McGrath-West, 17 Maddison Weatherall, 18 Zali Hopkins, 19 Jamilee Bright, 20 Sophie Clancy, 21 Taylor-Adeline Mapusua

Eels: 1 Abbi Church, 2 Zali Fay, 3 Mahalia Murphy, 4 Shontelle Stowers, 5 Cassey Tohi-Hiku, 6 Pihuka Berryman-Duff, 7 Rosemarie Beckett, 8 Madeline Jones, 9 Rueben Cherrington, 10 Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis, 11 Amelia Mafi, 12 Talesha O’Neill, 13 Kennedy Cherrington, 14 Capri Paekau, 15 Nakia Davis-Welsh, 16 Shannon Muru, 17 Monique Donovan, 18 Tyla Amiatu, 19 Kyra Simon, 20 Kimberley Hunt, 21 Taneka Todhunter, 22 22 Chloe Jackson

TEAM NEWS

Dragons: The Dragons have made a number of changes to the round 1 side that lost to the Knights, with Margot Vella, Cortez Te Pou, and Kaarla Cowan all set to make their club debuts.

Eels: The Eels will once again be without two of their best players with prop Elsie Albert and halfback Rachael Pearson not named for the second week in a row. Both are hampered by calf injuries they sustained in captain’s run ahead of the opening round. Last week’s replacement in the halves, Jade Fonua (hand) has also been ruled out with injury with rookie Rosemarie Beckett named to start at halfback in her place.

Knights v Cowboys

Sunday, 12pm, Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney

Knights: 1 Tamika Upton (c), 2 Sheridan Gallagher, 3 Shanice Parker, 4 Abigail Roache, 5 Jasmin Strange, 6 Caitlin Moran, 7 Jesse Southwell, 8 Tayla Predebon, 9 Olivia Higgins, 10 Rima Butler, 11 Caitlan Johnston, 12 Yasmin Clydsdale, 13 Kayla Romaniuk, Interchange: 14 Nita Maynard, 15 Tiana Davison, 16 Simone Karpani, 17 Viena Tinao, 18 Hannah Southwell, 19 Georgia Roche, 20 Tamerah Leati, 21 Felila Kia, 22 Jayde Herdegen

Cowboys: 1 Fran Goldthorp, 2 China Polata, 3 Jasmine Peters, 4 Shellie Long, 5 Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly, 6 Krystal Blackwell, 7 Kirra Dibb (c), 8 Tallisha Harden (c), 9 Emma Manzelmann, 10 Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, 11 Shaniah Power, 12 Bree Chester, 13 Makenzie Weale, Interchange: 14 Sera Koroi, 15 Sareka Mooka, 16 Jetaya Faifua, 17 Essay Banu, 18 Shaylee Joseph, 19 Vitalina Naikore, 21 April Ngatupuna, 22 Jessikah Reeves, 24 Tahlulah Tillett

TEAM NEWS

Knights: Hannah Southwell has been named on an extended bench to make her return to the field after missing the last 12 months of football with an ACL injury she suffered last year. She’ll be given every opportunity to play. English recruit Georgia Roche has also been named on the extended bench as a chance to make her club debut. After arriving in Australia recently, the former Woman of Steel winner is progressing through training with her new team.

Cowboys: Winger Mia Middleton will miss two games for a dangerous throw on Broncos winger Emily Bass in the Cowboys’ opening round loss to Brisbane last week. New Zealand winger Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly has been named as her replacement.

Wests Tigers v Sharks

Sunday, 1.50pm, Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney

Tigers: 1 Botille Vette-Welsh, 2 Jakiya Whitfeld, 3 Rikeya Horne, 4 Leianne Tufuga, 5 Josie Lenaz, 6 Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, 7 Emily Curtain, 8 Sarah Togatuki, 9 Ebony Prior, 10 Christian Pio, 11 Kezie Apps, 12 Eliza Siilata, 13 Najvada George, Interchange: 14 Sophie Curtain, 15 Losana Lutu, 16 Taylor Osborne, 17 Folau Vaki, 18 Jessica Kennedy, 19 Rebecca Pollard, 20 Bianca Bennetts, 21 Salma Nour, 22 Imogen Gobran

Sharks: 1 Jada Taylor, 2 Annessa Biddle, 3 Tiana Penitani, 4Kiana Takairangi, 5 Andie Robinson, 6 Emma Tonegato, 7 Tayla Preston, 8 Ellie Johnston, 9 Quincy Dodd, 10 Harata Butler, 11 Talei Holmes, 12 Vanessa Foliaki, 13 Brooke Anderson, Interchange: 14 Sereana Naitokatoka, 15 Tegan Dymock, 16 Chloe Saunders, 17 Jazmon Tupou-Witchman, 18 Cassie Staples, 19 Fiona Jahnke, 20 Maddie Studdon, 21 Fatafehi Hanisi, 22 Georgia Ravics

TEAM NEWS

Tigers: The Tigers are unchanged after their first up win against Parramatta on Sunday.

Sharks: Rhiannon Byers drops out of the squad with a wrist injury, while Tegan Dymock has been named on the bench after missing round 1 with illness.

Originally published as NRLW 2023: Gold Coast Titans veteran Steph Hancock reveals devastating tragedy before round 1