Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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HERMAN Ese’ese lobbed at Red Hill weighing a whopping 126kg and facing a long road to the NRL. Now the Broncos’ latest debutant is determined to ensure he doesn’t let this opportunity slip away.
Ese’ese played his first game for Brisbane, and only second in the NRL, last weekend against South Sydney.
It was the type of club debut coach Wayne Bennett wanted to see — faultless. The skilful prop ran for 81m off the bench without making an error or missing a tackle.
Ese’ese, 21, was released by Canterbury following three seasons at the Bulldogs, seeking a return to his “second home”.
He shed 14kg during the toughest pre-season of his career where he worked as a furniture removalist in his spare time and is now reaping the rewards.
“I came back heavy. I was around 126kg,” Ese’ese said.
“Alex Corvo and Jeremy Hickmans (Broncos fitness coaches) did a good job with me in the pre-season and got me down to 112kg now.
“It was pretty tough. It was a lot more strict. I had to come in for an extra day to get my weight down.
“The training’s been tough but it’s all worth it. I feel like I’ve done the hard work to get to where I am now.”
Ese’ese has worked his way into NRL calculations. His challenge now is to stay there. He will get another opportunity against Cronulla on Sunday after Broncos prop Adam Blair was last night suspended at the judiciary for dangerous contact.
Born and raised in Auckland, Ese’ese moved across the ditch in 2010 to attend league nursery Wavell High School, living with relatives while his parents stayed in New Zealand. The Bulldogs couldn’t resist his talents but things didn’t pan out as planned after he made his NRL debut last year.
“I moved over myself and stayed with my aunty and uncle in Springfield Lakes for a couple of years,” Ese’ese said.
“It was definitely a big sacrifice. I was a bit homesick at times but being around other family helped. I enjoyed my time at the Dogs. I’ve got nothing against them.
“I didn’t have any problems with the club. I wouldn’t say it was tough but I wasn’t really comfortable with the environment I was in. I never thought about giving football away. I just wanted different scenery and to come back to Queensland.
“I wanted to be back in Brisbane. It’s like my second home.”
Ese’ese’s statistics for Souths-Logan in the Intrust Super Cup have been mind-blowing but it will take some time before we see what he is capable of in the NRL. His debut was encouraging because he was barely noticeable, meaning he did what was needed.
“He did his job. That’s all he had to do,” said prop Josh McGuire. “He didn’t have to change anything from his Queensland Cup form.
“He came on, ran hard and tackled hard. That’s what we’ve been wanting from our bench.”
Cracking a grand final team is not easy and Ese’ese is likely to be in-and-out of the NRL throughout the season. He knows he has to make the most of it while he is on the big stage.
“If another opportunity comes, I’ll definitely put my best foot forward to try and cement a spot,” he said. “It’s awesome. It feels like the hard work has paid off.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...l/news-story/886007e23b75ac2abb723e7308bf7c84
Ese’ese played his first game for Brisbane, and only second in the NRL, last weekend against South Sydney.
It was the type of club debut coach Wayne Bennett wanted to see — faultless. The skilful prop ran for 81m off the bench without making an error or missing a tackle.
Ese’ese, 21, was released by Canterbury following three seasons at the Bulldogs, seeking a return to his “second home”.
He shed 14kg during the toughest pre-season of his career where he worked as a furniture removalist in his spare time and is now reaping the rewards.
“I came back heavy. I was around 126kg,” Ese’ese said.
“Alex Corvo and Jeremy Hickmans (Broncos fitness coaches) did a good job with me in the pre-season and got me down to 112kg now.
“It was pretty tough. It was a lot more strict. I had to come in for an extra day to get my weight down.
“The training’s been tough but it’s all worth it. I feel like I’ve done the hard work to get to where I am now.”
Ese’ese has worked his way into NRL calculations. His challenge now is to stay there. He will get another opportunity against Cronulla on Sunday after Broncos prop Adam Blair was last night suspended at the judiciary for dangerous contact.
Born and raised in Auckland, Ese’ese moved across the ditch in 2010 to attend league nursery Wavell High School, living with relatives while his parents stayed in New Zealand. The Bulldogs couldn’t resist his talents but things didn’t pan out as planned after he made his NRL debut last year.
“I moved over myself and stayed with my aunty and uncle in Springfield Lakes for a couple of years,” Ese’ese said.
“It was definitely a big sacrifice. I was a bit homesick at times but being around other family helped. I enjoyed my time at the Dogs. I’ve got nothing against them.
“I didn’t have any problems with the club. I wouldn’t say it was tough but I wasn’t really comfortable with the environment I was in. I never thought about giving football away. I just wanted different scenery and to come back to Queensland.
“I wanted to be back in Brisbane. It’s like my second home.”
Ese’ese’s statistics for Souths-Logan in the Intrust Super Cup have been mind-blowing but it will take some time before we see what he is capable of in the NRL. His debut was encouraging because he was barely noticeable, meaning he did what was needed.
“He did his job. That’s all he had to do,” said prop Josh McGuire. “He didn’t have to change anything from his Queensland Cup form.
“He came on, ran hard and tackled hard. That’s what we’ve been wanting from our bench.”
Cracking a grand final team is not easy and Ese’ese is likely to be in-and-out of the NRL throughout the season. He knows he has to make the most of it while he is on the big stage.
“If another opportunity comes, I’ll definitely put my best foot forward to try and cement a spot,” he said. “It’s awesome. It feels like the hard work has paid off.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...l/news-story/886007e23b75ac2abb723e7308bf7c84
