Herman Ese'ese

{{Short description|New Zealand and Samoa international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Herman Ese'ese

|fullname = Herman Ese'ese

|image = Herman Eseese.jpg

|imagesize =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|9|7}}

|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

|height = {{convert|187|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|119|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|position = {{rlp|PR|LF}}

|club1 = {{nowrap|Canterbury Bulldogs}}

|year1start = 2015

|year1end =

|appearances1 = 1

|tries1 = 0

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 0

|club2 = Brisbane Broncos

|year2start = 2016

|year2end = 17

|appearances2 = 30

|tries2 = 1

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 4

|club3 = Newcastle Knights

|year3start = 2018

|year3end = 20

|appearances3 = 62

|tries3 = 5

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 0

|points3 = 20

|club4 = {{nowrap|Gold Coast Titans}}

|year4start = 2021

|year4end = 22

|appearances4 = 16

|tries4 = 2

|goals4 = 0

|fieldgoals4 = 0

|points4 = 8

|club5 = Dolphins

|year5start = 2023

|year5end =

|appearances5 = 20

|tries5 = 0

|goals5 = 0

|fieldgoals5 = 0

|points5 = 0

|club6 = Hull FC

|year6start = 2024

|year6end = present

|appearances6 = 38

|tries6 = 10

|goals6 = 0

|fieldgoals6 = 0

|points6 = 20

| teamA = {{nowrap|Queensland Residents}}

| yearAstart = 2016

| yearAend =

| appearancesA = 1

| triesA = 0

| goalsA = 0

| fieldgoalsA = 0

| pointsA = 0

|teamB = Samoa

|yearBstart = 2017

|yearBend = 19

|appearancesB = 6

|triesB = 0

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 0

|teamC = {{nowrap|New Zealand}}

|yearCstart = 2018

|yearCend =

|appearancesC = 1

|triesC = 0

|goalsC = 0

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 0

|retired =

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/herman-eseese/summary.html|title=Herman Eseese - Career Stats & Summary|publisher=Rugby League Project|access-date=2016-04-07}}

|updated = 7 January 2024

}}

Herman Ese'ese (born 7 September 1994) is a professional rugby league footballer, who plays as a {{rlp|pr}}, and {{rlp|lf}} for Hull FC in the Super League. He has also played for both New Zealand and Samoa at international level.

He previously played for the Dolphins, the Gold Coast Titans, the Newcastle Knights, the Brisbane Broncos, and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia.

Background

Ese'ese was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Samoan descent and is the nephew of New Zealand Kiwis international Ali Lauiti'iti.{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/5519839/herman-eseese-creating-his-own-path-at-knights-after-quitting-broncos/|title=Herman Ese'ese creating his own path at Knights after quitting Broncos|first=BARRY|last=TOOHEY|date=11 July 2018|access-date=12 July 2018}}

Ese'ese played his junior rugby league for the Mangere East Hawks and Wests Panthers, before being signed by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/dogs-debutant-eseeses-dream-come-true/tabid/10874/newsid/85529/default.aspx|title=Dogs debutant Ese'ese's dream come true|publisher=NRL.com|date=2015-04-20|access-date=2015-04-30}}

Playing career

=Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2013-2015)=

In 2013 and 2014, Ese'ese played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' NYC team.{{cite web|url=http://nycdatabase.org/players/e/herman-eseese/ |title=Herman Ese'ese |publisher=Nycdatabase.org |access-date=2015-04-17 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419231539/http://nycdatabase.org/players/e/herman-eseese/ |archive-date=2015-04-19 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2014/05/23/nyc_late_mail_bulldogs_v_roosters.html|title=NYC LATE MAIL: Bulldogs v Roosters|date=23 May 2014 |publisher=Bulldogs.com.au|access-date=2015-04-17}}

In 2015, Ese'ese graduated to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' New South Wales Cup team.{{cite web|url=http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2015/03/03/vb_nsw_cup_teams_rou.html|title=VB NSW CUP TEAMS ROUND 1|date=3 March 2015 |publisher=NSWRL.com.au|access-date=2015-04-17}} In Round 7 of the 2015 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Canterbury-Bankstown club against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2015/round-7/canterbury-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html|title=NRL 2015 - Round 7|publisher=Rugby League Project|access-date=2015-11-16|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021158/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2015/round-7/canterbury-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2015/04/17/nrl_late_mail_bulldo.html|title=NRL LATE MAIL: Bulldogs v Sea-Eagles|date=17 April 2015 |publisher=Bulldogs.com.au|access-date=2015-04-17}} He was contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of 2016,{{cite web|url=http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/16-rookies-you-need-to-watch-at-nines/|title=16 ROOKIES YOU NEED TO WATCH AT THE NINES|publisher=Rugbyleagueweek.com.au|date=2015-01-29|access-date=2015-05-29}} however, after being stood down in April due to a drink driving charge,{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/statement-regarding-herman-eseese-17192/#BopYRAwS8yahO4VM.97|title=Statement regarding Herman Ese'ese | NRL|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2015-04-23|access-date=2015-11-16}} he was released from the final year of his contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/sam-scarlett-joins-brisbane-herman-eseese-to-train-with-broncos-during-pre-season/story-fnp0lyn6-1227611376467|title=Sam Scarlett Joins Brisbane Herman Eseese to Train with Broncos During Pre-season|publisher=Couriermail.com.au|access-date=2015-11-16}} Late in the year, he signed with the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup for 2016, while training with the Brisbane Broncos during the 2016 pre-season.

=Brisbane Broncos (2016-2017)=

In 2016, after gaining a contract with the Brisbane Broncos during the pre-season, Ese'ese made his Brisbane debut against South Sydney in Round 8 of the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/updated-team-lists-broncos-v-rabbitohs/tabid/10874/newsid/95147/default.aspx|title=Updated team lists: Broncos v Rabbitohs|publisher=NRL.com|date=2016-02-28|access-date=2016-04-23}}{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.broncos.com.au/news/2016/04/22/late_mail_broncos_v_.af_news.html|title=Late Mail - Broncos v Rabbitohs|publisher=Broncos|access-date=2016-04-23}} In September, he re-signed with the Brisbane club on a two-year contract until the end of 2018.{{cite web|author=Broncos.com.au|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/trio-commit-to-broncos-23919/|title=Trio commit to Broncos|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2016-09-01|access-date=2016-09-23}}

Ese’ese earned a starting spot at prop over Korbin Sims in some matches.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/05/11/herman-eseese-cements-starting-spot/|title=Herman Ese'ese cements starting spot|date=11 May 2017|access-date=10 March 2018}} On 6 May, Ese’ese made his international debut for Samoa against England, playing off the interchange bench in the 30–10 loss at Campbelltown Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CMWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.couriermail.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fteams%2Fbroncos%2Fherman-eseese-puts-improved-form-down-to-his-desire-to-play-representative-footy%2Fnews-story%2F62f6a90f94d502c5d8bb7ce86ac51d74&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=163d366cd00ae6e8db3db96d1eca73c5-1595300214|title=Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories|website=www.couriermail.com.au}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/05/06/england-too-strong-for-samoa/|title=England too strong for Samoa|date=6 May 2017|access-date=10 March 2018}}

=Newcastle Knights (2018-2020)=

In July 2017, he signed a three-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/knights-sign-herman-eseese-28450/ |title=Knights sign Herman Ese'ese |publisher=Zero Tackle |date=2017-04-06 |access-date=2017-07-27}} In round 25, he scored his first ever NRL try against the Parramatta Eels, in Brisbane's 34–52 loss at Suncorp Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/eels-send-finals-warning-with-broncos-demolition/tabid/10874/newsid/111379/default.aspx|title=Eels send finals warning with Broncos demolition|date=24 August 2017 |access-date=25 August 2017}}

In round 1 of the 2018 season, Ese'ese made his debut for Newcastle in their 19–18 golden point extra-time win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2018/03/09/late-mail-knights-v-manly/|title=Late mail: Knights v Manly|date=9 March 2018|access-date=9 March 2018}}

File:Herman Ese'ese hit up.jpg

In the 2019 NRL season,Ese'ese played 18 games for Newcastle as the club finished 11th on the table for a second consecutive year.{{cite web|url=https://nothingbutleague.com/2019/10/03/2019-season-review-newcastle-knights/|title=2019 SEASON REVIEW NEWCASTLE KNIGHT|website=Nothing But League}}

=Gold Coast Titans (2021-2022)=

In July 2020, Ese'ese signed a two-year contract with the Gold Coast Titans starting in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.titans.com.au/news/2020/07/13/herman-headed-to-the-titans/|title=HERMAN HEADED TO THE TITANS|date=13 July 2020|website=Gold Coast Titans}}

In round 10 of the 2021 NRL season, he was sent off for a high tackle during the Gold Coast's 48–12 loss against Penrith.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-16/nrl-panthers-titans-warriors-eels-storm-dragons/100136114/|title= Penrith, Parramatta and Melbourne — all score wins on final day of Magic Round|newspaper=ABC News|date= 16 May 2021}}

Following the Gold Coast's decision not to extend Ese'ese's contract, former coach from the Brisbane Broncos, Wayne Bennett signed him to the Dolphins for the 2023 NRL season.{{cite web | url=https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2022/09/29/eseese-joins-dolphins-engine-room/ | title=Ese'ese joins Dolphins engine room | date=29 September 2022 }}

He played a total of 13 games for the Gold Coast in the 2022 NRL season as the club finished 13th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-gold-coast-titans-season-review-justin-holbrook-tino-faasuamaleaui-david-fifita-toby-sexton-jayden-campbell-kieran-foran-jamal-fogarty/news-story/271373bd289c9c920124d2847fde6d5e/|title=Titans' million-dollar man goes missing as Holbrook rues costly mistake: Brutal Review|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=8 September 2022 }}

=Dolphins (2023)=

In round 5 of the 2023 NRL season, Ese'ese made his club debut for the Dolphins against the St George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium. He played a total of twenty games for the Dolphins.

=Hull F.C.=

On 15 August 2023, Ese'ese signed a three-year deal to join English side Hull F.C. starting in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/66500545/|title=Herman Ese'ese: Hull FC to sign Dolphins, Samoa and New Zealand prop for 2024|work=BBC Sport }}

Ese'ese made his club debut for Hull F.C. against arch-rivals Hull Kingston Rovers in round 1 of the 2024 Super League season. He was sent to the sin bin during the first half of the match for a dangerous high tackle. Hull F.C. would go on to lose the match 22-0.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/68304214/|title=Hull FC 0-22 Hull KR - Rovers win season opener as hosts have two sent off|work=BBC Sport |date=15 February 2024 }}

On 28 March 2025, Ese'ese extended his contract with Hull F.C. until the end of 2029.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-28 |title=Herman Ese'ese: Hull FC prop signs new contract until 2029 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/articles/ce8m8yr2kd1o |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}

Following the victory over Warrington Wolves in April 2025, Ese'ese equalled the record number for tries scored in consecutive games scored by a prop, scoring 6 games in a row. {{cite web |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron |title=Hull FC star sets incredible Super League record in Warrington win |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/hull-fc-star-sets-incredible-super-league-record-in-warrington-win |website=LoveRugbyLeague |access-date=14 April 2025}}

Statistics

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Team

!Games

!Tries

!Pts

2015

|{{Leagueicon|Canterbury}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

2016

| rowspan="2" |{{Leagueicon|Brisbane}} Brisbane Broncos

2017

|22

2018

| rowspan="3" |{{Leagueicon|Newcastle}} Newcastle Knights

|23

2019

|18

2020

|21

2021

| rowspan="2" |{{Leagueicon|Gold Coast Titans}} Gold Coast Titans

2022

|13

2023

|{{Leagueicon|Dolphins}} Dolphins

|20

2024

| rowspan="2" |{{Leagueicon|hull|12}} Hull FC

|22

2025

|14

|32

|Totals

|167

|18

|52

References

External links

[https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/dolphins/herman-eseese/ Dolphins profile]
[http://www.rlwc2017.com/players?team=381#Herman-Ese'ese 2017 RLWC profile]

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Brisbane Broncos players

Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players

Category:Dolphins (NRL) players

Category:Gold Coast Titans players

Category:Hull F.C. players

Category:Mangere East Hawks players

Category:Newcastle Knights players

Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players

Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Samoan descent

Category:Queensland Residents rugby league team players