The front rower on his return target, Hull FC recruitment, and 2026 goals.
Herman Ese’ese is determined to come back bigger and stronger for Hull FC next year and is targeting an end of March return. The prop forward saw his 2025 season cruelly ended to injury at the end of last month, with the 31-year-old rupturing his Achiles tendon.
However, Ese’ese, confirmed into Super League’s Dream Team this week after a superb season for the Black and Whites, is now three weeks post operation, with a successful procedure completed. Walking in a moon boot and with the aid of cutches, the powerful front rower has no issues arise from surgery, and is now pain free.
The next step? A long rehab journey, but it’s one the player, who is attacking his latest challenge in a typical relaxed manner, is ready to tackle head on.
“I’m pretty calm,” Ese’ese told Hull Live. “I’m positive. It’s the first major injury of my career, but right now I’m calm and I’m looking forward to cracking on with my rehab and getting out there next season.
“I’ll be pushing towards an end of March return. That’s still early in the season, and I’ve got time now to improve myself both physcially and mentally and hopefully come back a better and stronger player.
“I’ve spoken to our head physio (Andy Shea) and a specialist and they both said we’re looking at six to seven months. I’ll do everything I can to get that rehab right, do my extras, work hard, and get back as soon as I can.
“We have a big rehab crew at Hull FC at the moment, so I won’t be by myself, but I guess that’s a good thing. We’ll keep each other accountable, be there for one another, and get through it. We’ll definitely come back stronger.”
As for the Achilles rupture, Ese’ese knew straight away. At the time, he didn’t hold back the tears – he knew it was a big one – both for himself, and Hull’s top six charge.
“When I did it, I was emotional, but that’s the first thing I thought about – the play-offs,” Ese’ese explained. “I’m a player who doesn’t want to let my team and my teammates down and when I got injured, I was gutted.
“We already had a depleted team and I really wanted to help push us to that final spot, but in saying that, the players that were brought in did a good job. It was a close game against Hull KR, we got a good win against Warrington and then we lost to Catalans.
“Again, I was gutted, I’m not one to miss playing or training, and being sat on the sideline was weird, but I’ll be back. I’m determined to come back a better player.”
And as for next year, Ese’ese is upbeat. The club has recruited strongly again under Richie Myler and John Cartwright and that gives the prop an incentive to get back. Entering what will be his third season in the black and white, he wants to play his part in what he believes can be a really successful year.
“I believe without the injuries we would have made the play-offs this year, but injuries are part of the game,” Ese’ese explained. “We can’t blame them, but we’re definitely targeting a top-four spot now.
“I believe we can achieve that based on the confidence we’ve picked up this season. It’s been a massive jump and we’ve exceeded all expectations.
“Our young players have kicked on – Harvey Barron, Davy Litten, Lewis Martin and the Kemp boys; they’ll gain a lot of experience and they will only get better. In terms of the playing group, we’re confident – you look at the players we’ve brought in, Sam Lisone, James Bell, etc., and they will help us come on heaps and bounds.
“The club have added to our depth and both Richie and Carty have done a great job recruiting for that and bringing the right players in. If we can get a fully fit team out on the field and with our new recruits, we believe we can push for a top-four spot.”