Coen Hess is ready to step up and be counted as Cowboys search for more leadership
Maroons backrower Coen Hess has had enough of the Cowboys’ losing ways and is determined to be a catalyst for the club to return to their dominance of the past decade.
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THE time for excuses is over.
Maroons backrower Coen Hess has had enough of the losing ways of the Cowboys and wants to be a catalyst for the club to return to their dominance of the past decade.
The ‘Hess Express’ entered the first grade arena when North Queensland was at the height of its powers.
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The backrower burst onto the scene with a try on debut in a 50-16 drubbing of the Warriors in the club’s build to the 2015 premiership before backing it up with four tries in eight games in 2016 which included three finals appearances.
But the glow of those early years has all but dulled after recent seasons. With the Cowboys slipping to three-straight finishes in the bottom four, and a winning record of 32 per cent over that time.
“I just want the club to get back into a winning type of way. When I first came on the scene I wasn’t accustomed to the club losing games,” Hess said.
“Now I have had a fair taste of that over the past few years, I certainly know what end of the stick I would rather. As long as the club is winning, that is all I care about.
“It is a terribly tough position to be in, we are professional athletes and we want to win as much the next bloke. That is what our job revolves around. It is a terrible place to be in coming in each week after a loss and everyone’s heads are down.
“Even after one win last year, you could see the buzz around the boys. If we can string a few wins together it will be a great vibe around the place.”
A lot of the responsibility for the turnaround in form will fall on the broad shoulders of the 114kg, 190cm backrower.
The 24-year-old is closing in on 100 games in the top grade and will be the most-capped player in the Cowboys second row stocks after the retirement of club legend Gavin Cooper last season.
While his own form has admittedly been patchy in recent seasons – dropped at the back end of last year by interim coach Josh Hannay – Hess said it was time to step up and fill that leadership void.
“Over the past two or three years we have had some pretty big shoes to fill in the leadership roles. I am trying my best to be a bit more of a voice out there,” Hess said.
“We have Morgs and Jase who have been accustomed to that role now, they have done their tenure and eased into the role nicely, but I guess there is a good opportunity there for a few of us ‘middle-aged’ guys, that we can take a bit more responsibility.
“It is exciting, I am a bit more comfortable in the group now. The guys know what they can expect of me and what I expect of myself, and I enjoy talking more and throwing out my wit and banter.
“There is no excuses now. I know what to expect of an NRL season and I know how to get my body right for a pre-season. There is a healthy competition for spots and that brings out the best in everyone.”
Originally published as Coen Hess is ready to step up and be counted as Cowboys search for more leadership
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