Herman Ese'ese


Herman Ese'ese is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a and for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. He will join the Gold Coast Titans from 2021. He has played for both New Zealand and Samoa at international level.
He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League.

Background

Ese'ese was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Samoan descent.
He played his junior rugby league for the Mangere East Hawks and Wests Panthers, before being signed by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2011.
Ese'ese is the nephew of New Zealand Kiwis international Ali Lauiti'iti.

Playing career

Early career

In 2013 and 2014, Ese'ese played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' NYC team.

2015

In 2015, Ese'ese graduated to the Bulldogs' New South Wales Cup team. In Round 7 of the 2015 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Bulldogs against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. He was contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of 2016, however, after being stood down in April due to a drink driving charge, he was released from the final year of his contract. 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.

2016

After gaining a contract with the Broncos during the pre-season, Ese'ese made his Broncos debut against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 8 of the season. In September, he re-signed with the Broncos on a 2-year contract until the end of 2018.

2017

Ese’ese earnt a starting spot at prop over Korbin Sims in some matches. 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.
In July, he signed a 3-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2018. In round 25, he scored his first ever NRL try against the Parramatta Eels, in the Broncos' 34-52 loss at Suncorp Stadium.

2018

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.

2019

Ese'ese played 18 games in the 2019 NRL season for Newcastle as the club finished 11th on the table for a second consecutive year.

2020

In July, Ese'ese signed a 2-year contract with the Gold Coast Titans starting in 2021.