RUGBY LEAGUE: Killarney footballer Stephanie Hancock has been named in the Harvey Norman Jillaroos squad of 24 ahead of the Rugby League World Cup.

Hancock has missed some international games in the past two seasons due to injuries but played for Queensland in this year's interstate series and is in the squad of 24 for the cup.

Her Queensland Maroons front row partner Heather Ballinger, a past student of Scots PGC College, is also in the squad.

Hancock was one of the first girls to play junior rugby league in the younger age groups in the Warwick and District Junior Rugby League competition when she lined up for Eastern Suburbs as a player and then a coach.

The first cup games for the women will be on November 16. Australia plays Cook Islands at Southern Cross Group Stadium in Sydney in its first game.

Hancock has a dream to play in the World Cup final in front of family and friends on December 2 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, a ground where her father Rohan played for Queensland and Australia.

For the first time, the women's World Cup final will be a curtain raiser to the men's World Cup grand final.

Hancock, Sam Bremner, Karina Brown, Renae Kunst and Ruan Sims are the five players in the squad who have captained Australia.

Australia is defending titleholders after winning the last cup in the United Kingdom with a team including Hancock, Ballinger and former Warwick student Jo Barrett who is now retired.

Tickets to the women's cup tournament are available from rlwc2017.com, with prices starting from $10 for triple header pool games. Free entry to children 15 years or under and concession holders.

Tickets to the doubler-header grand finals in Brisbane can also be purchased from the Rugby League World Cup website.

Jillaroos squad

Kezie Apps - Helensburgh (NSW)

Chelsea Baker - Wallabies Gladstone (QLD)

Heather Ballinger - Wests Panthers (QLD)

Annette Brander - Beerwah Bulldogs (QLD)

Brittany Breayley - Brothers Ipswich (QLD)

Sam Bremner - Helensburgh (NSW)

Ali Brigginshaw - Brothers Ipswich (QLD)

Karina Brown - Easts Tigers (QLD)

Nakia Davis-Welsh - Redfern All Blacks (NSW)

Vanessa Foliaki - Easts Tigers (NSW)

Stephanie Hancock - Easts Tigers (QLD)

Isabelle Kelly - North Newcastle (NSW)

Renae Kunst - Wests Panthers (QLD)

Corban McGregor - Cronulla-Caringbah (NSW)

Caitlin Moran - North Newcastle (NSW)

Lavina O'Mealey - Redfern All Blacks (NSW)

Talesha Quinn - Cronulla-Caringbah (NSW)

Ruan Sims - Cronulla-Caringbah (NSW)

Maddie Studdon - Redfern All Blacks (NSW)

Zahara Temara - Burleigh Bears (QLD)

Simaima Taufa - Mounties (NSW)

Elianna Walton - Greenacre (NSW)

Meg Ward - Northern Territory (NT)

Rebecca Young - North Newcastle (NSW)