Southern Downs footballers in best 17 in the nation
RUGBY LEAGUE: Stephanie Hancock and Heather Ballinger are in the Harvey Norman Jillaroos merit team after playing well in last Friday's inaugural Holden Women's State of Origin match.
Eight NSW players received recognition in the merit team and nine Queenslanders made the list.
NRL senior manager of the Women's Elite Program, Tiffany Slater, congratulated those in the merit team, along with every player involved in the historic Origin.
"More than a million fans watched across screens and close to 7000 packed into North Sydney Oval in what was a highly entertaining and tough Origin performance by both teams,” Slater said in an NRL statement.
Ballinger was in the front row for Queensland in the loss to NSW and is in jersey 10.
Hancock starred off the bench for the Maroons last Friday and is in jersey 15 in the merit team.
Before the interstate match, Hancock said she would more than likely retire from state footy if the Maroons won.
They didn't so don't be surprised if she plays again next year. Ballinger and Hancock will play for Brisbane in the inaugural NRL women's competition and are likely to be selected in the Jillaroos team to play in a Test double-header at the end of the season against New Zealand on the same program as a men's Test match.
