Ali Brigginshaw has been denied a chance to finish her career in green and gold, with the retiring NRLW veteran overlooked for Australia's Rugby League World Cup squad.
The Brisbane playmaker, 36, was left out of coach Jess Skinner's Jillaroos side on Monday, less than 24 hours after her last NRLW game for the Broncos.
Brigginshaw's side were thrashed in the grand final by Sydney Roosters.
Centre Isabelle Kelly, the Roosters skipper, will captain Australia with both Easts halves, Tarryn Aiken and Jocelyn Kelleher named ahead of Brigginshaw.
Skinner said Brigginshaw was "upset" when she was informed she wouldn't have the chance to play in a fourth World Cup.
"That was one of the hardest phone calls I've had to make as a coach to a player and to talk about her and where she was," Skinner said.
"I'm getting emotional now talking about her … she's won three World Cups and been the player of the match twice.
"She's a Golden Boot winner and served this jersey for 17 years.
"That was a decision that was really hard to make.
"Ali, she's a legend of the game because of what she has done and what she's done in our jersey is exceptional. She's always used this jersey as a driver to elevate women in the game."
Brigginshaw was also handed a one-match ban on Monday for a hit on Aiken in the grand final.
The Jillaroos side is dominated by players from the Broncos and Roosters, including Brisbane five-eighth Jesse Southwell and Easts prop Millie Boyle, who has earned selection despite announcing she would retire after the NRLW season.
Boyle is joined in the Australian squad by former rugby sevens star Sariah Paki, who has excelled in the forwards for the Roosters this season.
"She has played for Australia in two other sports so to be able to have her come across here makes her a really unique and successful athlete," Skinner said.
Australia open their group stage against Samoa on Friday October 16 before facing England and Wales.
Jillaroos squad: Tarryn Aiken, Kezie Apps, Shaylee Bent, Abbi Church, Jaime Chapman, Quincy Dodd, Millie Elliott, Olivia Higgins, Ellie Johnston, Keilee Joseph, Jocelyn Kelleher, Isabelle Kelly, Olivia Kernick, Keeley Nizza, Sariah Paki, Tiana Penitani Gray, Julia Robinson, Jessica Sergis, Jesse Southwell, Simaima Taufa, Sarah Togatuki, Tamika Upton, Makenzie Weale
