The 41-year-old has threatened to do it seven times, she reckons, and even followed through once.
It was the worst year of her life.
Hancock is aiming to become the first person, male or female, to win a top-grade title beyond the age of 40 when the Titans take on Newcastle in Sunday's NRLW grand final.
Just don't mention the 'r-word', not yet at least.
"I've 'retired' at least seven times and I did hang up the boots in 2020," Maroons representative Hancock told AAP.
"Origin that year was meant to be my last game. I didn't play the following year in club footy in Brisbane and I was the saddest person in the world.
"Something in my life was missing. Football has been my entire life.
"I didn't go to games or training. I'd been doing it for 20 years so it felt like there was a massive void."
That's when she spoke to former Titans NRLW coach Jamie Feeney, when he called to see how she was getting on.
As a result, she "played in the first Titans side that was put in the NRLW in 2021", Hancock said.
So did she 'retire' at the end of last year?
"I probably said I was going to. I don't know why I say it because I love this game so much," Hancock grinned.
"A very wise man called Rob Brough said to me once, 'If you are still capable of playing at the level you are, then why give it away if you love it so much?'.
"That sticks in the back of my head. When I am asked if I want to play footy I don't even think. The word 'yes' comes straight out of my mouth.
"I am still loving it as much as ever. The youth in our team is making me feel rejuvenated and young again."
Hancock, the daughter of former Queensland men's forward Rohan Hancock, won back-to-back NRLW titles with Brisbane in 2018 and 2019 and now wants to get the Titans home for their first.
"After getting the wooden spoon last year I hand on heart would not have believed you if you said the Gold Coast Titans would play in the grand final in 2023," she said.
"I probably would have laughed at you.
"We have a group of 18 and 19-year-olds. Throw in the more experienced girls and Murph (coach Karyn Murphy) has created a football side.
"Last week you saw it. We played 70 minutes of high-quality footy (in a 12-0 shutout of the Sydney Roosters)."
"We can win this thing. We have got the skill, the talent and most of all the heart. It is all about the mental toughness of these girls."
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