A firm response.
Hull FC prop Herman Ese’ese.(Image: Getty)
Andy Last has given the biggest indication yet that Herman Ese’ese will remain at Hull FC beyond the end of the 2026 season.
Sky Sports reported ahead of last week’s win against St Helens that Ese’ese, who is contracted at Hull as a marquee player until the end of 2029 at least, would be playing his last game for the club with an imminent exit looming.
Leeds Rhinos have been heavily speculated to be a club interested in the Hull prop, but their head coach Brad Arthur dismissed any talk of the player, who returned from a nine-month Achilles injury back in June, joining the West Yorkshire outfit for this year.
And now Last has seemingly put to bed any talk of a move for 2027 as well, stating that he ‘doesn’t see any reason’ why the 32-year-old, who played his part with a strong performance against the Saints, won’t be at the club next season.
Last was asked again about the Ese’ese exit reports and even chuckled before stating: “I can assure you it wasn’t his last match. He’s definitely in the squad and playing.
“He did a great job last week, did Herman, and I told him so in front of his teammates. He got us on the front foot, and defensively he was much better, and he played good minutes.
“Herman is an asset to any team and he’s an asset to us. We’ve got him contracted for the next couple of years and if Herman is playing well, as he did last week, he’s an asset to Hull FC.
“He’ll be looking forward to another strong game on Friday against Castleford. He’s got the bit between his teeth. We’ve done a little bit of work behind closed doors – things that he needs to improve on. He’s taken that information on board and I thought we saw a better Herman Ese’ese against St Helens last Thursday night.”
Asked if he expects Ese’ese to be at the club in the long term, Last added: “Yeah, I do. I expect him to be at this club. He’s contracted so I don’t see any reasons why he would be going anywhere else.”