Coen Hess

Coen Hess

Personal information
Born	(1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 (age 27) Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Height	190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	114 kg (17 st 13 lb)
Playing information
Position	Second-row, Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2015– North Qld Cowboys 165 34 0 0 136 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2017–20 Queensland 6 0 0 0 0
Source: [1] As of 2 September 2023

Coen Hess (born 14 August 1996) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).

He has played at representative level for Queensland in the State of Origin series.

Background

Hess was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia and lived in the town until the age of 8.

While in Bundaberg, he played junior rugby league for the Across The Waves Tigers club and attended St Patrick's Catholic School. He then moved with his family to Mount Isa, where he played for the Mount Isa Black Stars. In 2012, Hess signed a scholarship deal with the North Queensland Cowboys and moved to Townsville where he attended Ignatius Park College.^{[ citation needed ]}

Playing career

In 2012, Hess represented the Queensland under-16 side. ^[2] In 2014, Hess made his NYC debut for the Cowboys, scoring a try in his side's loss to the Newcastle Knights. Later that year he represented the Queensland under-18 side and was a member of the Townsville Stingers' victorious Mal Meninga Cup and National Under-18 Championship sides.

2015

In January 2015, Hess was a member of Queensland's Emerging Maroons squad and played for the Cowboys in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines tournament. ^{[3] [4]} On 19 March 2015, Hess re-signed with the Cowboys for a further three seasons. ^[5] On 2 May 2015, Hess represented the Junior Kangaroos against Junior Kiwis, starting at second-row in the 22-20 win at Robina Stadium. ^[6] On 8 July 2015, Hess would represent for Queensland Under 20s against New South Wales Under 20s, starting at second-row in the 32-16 loss at Suncorp Stadium. ^[7] In June 2015, Hess made his Queensland Cup debut for the Mackay Cutters, scoring two tries and setting up another in their 28-18 victory over the Redcliffe Dolphins in which Hess was given man of the match honours. ^[8] In Round 24 of the 2015 NRL season, Hess made his first-grade debut for the North Queensland Cowboys, playing off the interchange bench, scoring a try on debut in North Queensland's impressive 50-16 win at Mt Smart Stadium. ^[9] This was Hess's only NRL match in the season. On 14 September 2015, Hess was named at second-row in the 2015 NYC Team of the Year. ^[10]

2016

On 6 January, Hess was selected in the QAS under-20s Origin squad. ^[11] In February 2016, Hess was selected in North Queensland's 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad. ^[12] In Round 12 against the St George Illawarra Dragons, Hess made his first appearance in North Queensland's first grade team for 2016, playing off the interchange bench in the 14-10 loss at WIN Stadium. ^[13] In North Queensland's sudden-death Semi Finals match against Queensland rivals the Brisbane Broncos, Hess started at second-row for the injured Ethan Lowe, playing the whole 90 minutes, scoring a try and ran 188 metres as North Queensland won 26-20 in extra time at 1300SMILES Stadium. ^[14] Hess would start again at second-row for North Queensland's Preliminary Final match against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, scoring a try in the 32-20 loss at Sydney Football Stadium. ^[15] Hess finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 8 matches and scoring 4 tries for North Queensland.

2017

In January 2017, Hess was selected in the QAS Emerging Origin squad. ^[16] In February 2017, Hess was selected in the Cowboys 2017 NRL Auckland Nines squad. ^[17] After showing impressive form for North Queensland, scoring 10 tries in 13 matches, Hess was in contention to make into the Queensland State of Origin squad. ^[18] After Queensland were beaten convincingly by New South Wales 28-4 in Game 1, the Maroons squad had a major cleanout and Hess was selected to make his representative debut for Queensland in Game 2 of the 2017 State of Origin series, playing off the interchange bench in the Maroons 18-16 win at ANZ Stadium. ^{[19] [20]} Hess would also play in Game 3 off the interchange bench in the Maroons series 22-6 win at Suncorp Stadium. ^[21] On 1 October 2017, in North Queensland's 2017 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm Hess played off the interchange bench in the 34-6 defeat at ANZ Stadium. ^{[22] [23]} Hess finished his impressive 2017 NRL season with him being the North Queensland club's second highest tryscorer with 13 tries in 27 matches.

2018

Hess became a regular starter at second row for the North Queensland outfit in the 2018 NRL season. Of his 23 games for the side, he started in 19 of them. He was once again selected for Queensland, playing all three games off the interchange in the 2018 State of Origin series. ^[24]

On 14 December 2018, Hess signed a three-year extension with the North Queensland club until the end of the 2022 season. ^[25]

2019

Hess played 22 games for the North Queensland club, starting eight games at second row and four at centre. ^[26] In a disappointing season, Hess lost his starting second row position for North Queensland and his spot in the Queensland side. ^[27] He scored just one try, his lowest try tally since his debut season in 2015.

2020

In February, Hess was a member of the North Queensland club's 2020 NRL Nines winning squad, scoring three tries in the tournament. ^[28] Hess played 15 games in 2020, starting all 15 at second-row and scoring three tries. Following a Round 16 loss to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Hess was charged with a crusher tackle and was suspended for one game. ^[29]

In October, Hess was named in the Queensland State of Origin squad, starting at second-row in their 18–14 Game 1 win over New South Wales. ^[30]

2021

In June, Hess was 18th man for the Queensland State of Origin squads for both Games I and II. In Game III, he was rushed into the side as 19th man. At seasons end, he was named North Queensland's Paul Bowman medalist for club player of the year.^{[ citation needed ]}

2022

In round 24 of the 2022 NRL season, Hess was sent to the sin bin during North Queensland's 20-10 loss against South Sydney. ^[31] Hess played a total of 23 games for North Queensland in 2022 as the club reached the preliminary final before losing to Parramatta 24-20. ^[32]

2023

Hess played a total of 24 games for North Queensland in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table. ^[33]

2024

Hess was ruled out of the entire season after suffering an ACL injury in a trial match in the pre-season. ^[34] In may 2024, Hess has re-signed with the club on a three year extension. ^[35]

Achievements and accolades

Individual

• North Queensland Cowboys Rookie of the Year : 2015
• NYC Team of the Year : 2015
• North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year: 2021

Team

• 2020 NRL Nines : North Queensland Cowboys – Winners

Statistics

NRL

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2023 season ^[36]

Season	Team	Matches	T	G	GK %	F/G	Pts
2015	North Queensland	1	1	0	–	0	4
2016		8	4	0	–	0	16
2017		27	13	0	–	0	52
2018		23	7	0	–	0	28
2019		22	1	0	—	0	4
2020		15	3	0	—	0	12
2021		22	2				8
2022		23	1				4
2023		24	2				8
Career totals		165	34	0	—	0	136

State of Origin

†	Denotes seasons in which Hess won a State of Origin Series

Season	Team	Matches	T	G	GK %	F/G	Pts
2017†	Queensland	2	0	0	—	0	0
2018	Queensland	3	0	0	—	0	0
2020†	Queensland	1	0	0	—	0	0
Career totals		6	0	0	—	0	0

References

1. "Coen Hess - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
2. vhabermann. "New Bundy Maroon" . Retrieved 27 July 2018.
3. "QAS Emerging squads 2015". 16 December 2014.
4. "2015 Auckland Nines squad lists". 28 January 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
5. "Cowboys secure young gun Coen Hess". 18 March 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
6. "Junior Roos hold on in thriller". 2 May 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
7. "Kelly scores four as Blues win 20s". 8 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
8. "Coen on right track". Townsville Bulletin. 15 June 2015.
9. "Cowboys overrun fading Warriors". 22 August 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
10. "2015 Holden Cup Team of the Year". 14 September 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
11. "Broncos young guns dominate QAS U20s". Queensland Rugby League. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
12. "2016 Downer NRL Auckland Nines Official Squads". 3 February 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
13. "NRL 2016: St George Illawarra Dragons v North Queensland Cowboys match report | The Courier-Mail". Archived from the original on 30 May 2016.
14. Lutton, Phil (16 September 2016). "North Queensland Cowboys register yet another epic win over Brisbane Broncos". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
15. "Maloney fires as Sharks edge towards history" . Retrieved 27 July 2018.
16. "QAS Emerging Origin Squad". 8 December 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
17. "2017 Downer NRL Auckland Nines squads". 3 February 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
18. "Hess a step closer to Origin debut". Townsville Bulletin. 3 June 2017.
19. Kevin Walters ignores Paul Green by declaring ‘everyone knows Hess is ready for Origin’ Archived 11 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
20. "Five massive Origin talking points" . Retrieved 27 July 2018.
21. "Beaten captain's ultimate act of class" . Retrieved 27 July 2018.
22. "Storm were unbeatable: Hess". 1 October 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
23. "Billy's raw grand final breakdown - news.com.au — Australia's #1 news site". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
24. State of Origin effect could help struggling Cowboys find confidence, says Coen Hess Archived 11 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
25. "Hess extends stay with Cowboys". 14 December 2018.
26. "Foreign lessons: Hess find form in unfamiliar territory". 16 August 2019.
27. "Winners and losers from Kevvy's Queensland Maroons Origin I team". 27 May 2019.
28. "Nines final team list: Final v Dragons". 15 February 2020.
29. "Round 16 charges: Lisone not guilty; Hess, Saulo, Ofahengaue out". NRL. 1 September 2020.
30. "'It is up to him now': Bennett challenges Hess to repay faith". NRL. 31 October 2021.
31. "South Sydney defeats North Queensland 20-10 to confirm NRL finals berth as Cronulla, Canberra post wins". www.abc.net.au.
32. "'See it in their eyes': The late-season pact and 'massive sacrifice' behind Eels surge". www.foxsports.com.au.
33. "NRL 2023: North Queensland Cowboys season review". www.sportingnews.com.
34. "Injury update: Coen Hess". North Queensland Cowboys. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
35. "Hess on track to be a Cowboy for life". North Queensland Cowboys. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
36. "Coen Hess - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project".

External links

• North Queensland Cowboys profile
• NRL profile