A telling answer – for now.
Hull FC prop Herman Ese’ese.
Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur has confirmed that Hull FC prop Herman Ese’ese won’t be joining the club ‘at this stage’.
Sky Sports reported that Hull’s game at St Helens last Thursday night could have been Ese’ese’s last for the club.
The Rhinos are understood to be one of a handful of Super League clubs interested in the Hull forward, who returned to action in June after a nine-month injury lay-off following an Achilles rupture.
Ese’ese is under contract at Hull until the end of the 2029 season and is also a marquee player at the club – meaning Leeds would have to seemingly cough up a large salary and potential fee to FC to acquire the player.
Those financial challenges may have been a stumbling block for any imminent move for the 32-year-old. However, Arthur didn’t rule out any move for 2027 in his pre-match press conference.
Asked if Ese’ese could be bound for the Rhinos, Arthur said: “Not at this stage. He’s not coming at this stage.”
Meanwhile, Leeds are hoping for some imminent recruitment elsewhere, with sporting director Ian Blease hinting that new signings could be on the horizon.
The Rhinos have been linked with the likes of Braden Hamlin-Uele this year and have ten days to complete moves for the rest of the 2026 season before transfers close for the rest of the year.
“There could be something – there could be some movement,” Arthur added. “We’ve got ten days, haven’t we? There could be something for us coming in.”