Why promising prop Herman Ese’ese turned his back on the Broncos
BOOM prop Herman Ese’ese has defended his decision to quit the Broncos, saying he couldn’t turn his back on a Newcastle deal that will make him a millionaire.
In one of the NRL’s great comeback stories, Ese’ese has signed a three-year, $1.4 million deal with the Knights — just two years after receiving a $20,000 lifeline from Brisbane’s feeder-club Souths Logan.
The Broncos believed Ese’ese had a huge future at Red Hill and are bitterly disappointed to be losing a player they helped rescue after his NRL career went off the rails at former club the Bulldogs.
Ese’ese’s contract negotiations with the Broncos turned ugly last week when coach Wayne Bennett pulled the club’s offer after it became clear Brisbane could not compete with Newcastle’s package.
Despite the ructions, Ese’ese says he holds no ill-feeling towards the Broncos and hopes to return from a knee injury in the next fortnight to be part of their premiership push.
“It will be hard to leave,” said Ese’ese, speaking for the first time since agreeing to terms with the Knights.
“It was a tough call to make, under Wayne Bennett I’ve learned so much but I have to do the best thing for myself and my family.
“This deal can set me up for life.”
It is understood the Broncos are partly aggrieved because of the work they put into Ese’ese. When he returned to Brisbane in 2015, he was overweight at 128kg and worked as a furniture removalist to supplement his meagre Souths Logan deal.
But Ese’ese says his move to Newcastle is not motivated solely by money. While he has made huge strides at the Broncos, the Knights have offered the Kiwi Test hopeful something Bennett can’t guarantee — a weekly starting spot in the engine room.
“The big attraction was the starting spot at Newcastle,” said Ese’ese, who has started in eight of 22 games for the Broncos.
“I feel I’m ready for that responsibility and I haven’t been able to get that regularly at the Broncos.
“I have nothing bad to say about the Broncos. Wayne gave me a helping hand and I will be forever grateful for what the club has done for me on and off the field.
“But career wise, Newcastle is the right move for me. I will be in the starting line-up and they have given me the opportunity to develop as a starting player.”
Bennett said he would not ruthlessly freeze out Ese’ese as he famously did with Justin Hodges 15 years ago when he signed with the Roosters.
“He would have played against Newcastle (tonight) if he was fit. It will be another two weeks before he comes back,” Bennett said.
“Herman has done great here, but that’s how the salary cap works. He was looking for more income and we couldn’t match that, so he’s gone.”
