A TEXT message at 1.22am yesterday had the news Warwick couple Leo and Theresa Barrett wanted to hear - their daughter Jo had won a World Cup final with the Jillaroos.

Australia beat defending champions New Zealand 22-12 in the cup final at Headingley.

Three of the Australian players went to school on the Southern Downs, Barrett at St Mary's, Assumption and Warwick High, Stephanie Hancock at Killarney State School and then Fairholme and Ballinger at Scots PGC.

Theresa said they rang back straight after they received the message and spoke to Jo.

"She spoke about how hard and even the game was and they couldn't let their guard down," Theresa said.

"Jo was extremely excited, they were quietly confident going into the game. Jo started at centre and had a break each side of half-time. She was on the field at the end of the game.

"She said four years ago her goal was to play in the World Cup in England and now she has done that."

She was a teacher at Warwick High when she first played for Australia and won a monthly Daily News/Warwick Credit Union Senior Sports Star of the Month award.

Ballinger scored one of the four Aussie tries in the final.

Seven minutes from full time, a comment on the Jillaroos Facebook site stated "and a great run by Steph Hancock to take the team forward - Rohan would be proud. Under 7 minutes remaining."

Soon after, the Jillaroos kicked a penalty to increase their lead to 22-12.

Rohan Hancock played in the first State of Origin game in 1980 and was a Kangaroo tourist in 1982.

He is in England for the cup and has offered plenty of encouragement to the girls on tour and played a virtual mentor role.

The cup final victory was an outstanding effort as the Australians went down to New Zealand 14-6 in the final round game last Friday (AEST). The Jillaroos rested Hancock and Barrett for the game as both sides planned ahead for the final rather than a round game which had no bearing on spots in the final.

The veteran of the Jillaroos team at age 41, halfback Karyn Murphy received the players' player award.

The team was coached by Broncos development manager Paul Dyer who is a regular in Warwick for Anglo Australia Broncos Cup finals for year 8-10 students.

One of two assistant coaches/trainers is former international winger Michael Hancock who started his career in senior footy with the Stanthorpe Gremlins. Fletcher Holmes is also an assistant coach/trainer.

Four wins

THE Jillaroos victory gave the Australians four wins out of a possible five in the Festival of World Cups in England.

Former Warwick Cowboys forward Adam Fisher was in the winning Armed Forces team.

He was player of the match in the semi-final victory late last week.

Australian flyhalf Keith Eshman, a former NRL player, scored three tries in his side's 32-22 victory against New Zealand. Australia led 20-6 at halftime.