HESS-TERIA
NQ BACKROWER ON HUNT FOR ORIGIN REDEMPTION
THE man behind Coen Hess’ unbelievable offseason physical transformation believes it is the determination and drive he saw in the gym that will be crucial for Queensland to reverse two years of Origin heartache tonight.
Hess failed to finish the season in the Cowboys first grade squad, but his personal trainer and friend Leigh Mckinnon believes that will only light the fire inside the backrower.
A YEAR of indifferent form will be cast aside by Coen Hess as he prepares to make an emphatic statement on his return to the State of Origin arena.
That is the belief of Leigh Mckinnon, who sees a drive in the Cowboys forward that has him set to make an impact in his comeback.
Last off-season Hess came to World Gym Townsville, determined to transform himself and equipped with a desire to expand his knowledge of health and fitness.
A standard consultation with Ignite PT trainer Mckinnon got the pair working side-by-side, and in quick time Hess’ goals to simply “become a fit machine” were thrown out the window.
He wanted to learn as much as possible about what it took to be an all-round athlete, and Mckinnon said that mentality had been a focal point of his transformation.
“We did most of the training together, rather than as more of a PT and client role … with my leadership and him being the hungry athlete he was we bounced our energy off each other,” Mckinnon said. “We did a bit of extra stuff outside of the gym, a little bit of trail running and went for a couple of rides. We attempted to do kayaking but he was too heavy for that, his a--e sank in the thing.
“I was just showing him lots of things he hadn’t done before and he was really enjoying that ... he actually started doing his PT cert three and four courses just to expand his knowledge on it more.“
While Hess began the 2020 NRL season as a player to watch, team form struggles coincided with his own lapses, and he was dropped by thencoach Josh Hannay.
Ability has rarely been a question with Hess; he has proved through his five Maroons caps he is up to that level of football.
However an inability to perform consistently has been the crucial thorn in his side.
On only two occasions did
Hess run for more than 100m this year, and at the time of his axing, Hannay said that perhaps the bulldozing backrower had been thrust into the Origin cauldron too soon.
Now it is on Maroons coach Wayne Bennett to turn promise into performance.
With Mal Meninga and Neil Henry also on deck, Hess believes the support is there to complete his evolution.
“It’s probably one of the best coaching teams of all time so for myself, to be in this camp, I said to my dad earlier on that if I walk out of this camp not knowing something (I didn’t know) walking in, then I’m kidding myself,” Hess said. “I’m just trying to be a bit of a sponge and learn as much as I can while I’m in here. It’s really unbelievable.”
It will take more than words of wisdom from some of the game’s greatest coaches, but there is an edge to Hess that Mckinnon believes will be his making when the first whistle sounds.
He said it was an ability to throw everything at any task, no matter how great, that had him primed to silence critics of his selection.
“I think in the past he’s read some of that stuff and it’s got to him a little bit so he’s learnt from that,” Mckinnon said.
“I don’t think he gets too caught up (in outside noise), he’s just focused on being his
best and it will be really good to see him go out there and prove those people wrong.
“He’s got that focus and personality; when he’s set on something he goes all in. It runs in his family. I train his dad a little bit and he’s the same — he’s lost a lot of weight and you can see where he (Coen) gets it from.
“He’s always thinking big and I think with that mindset it will be interesting to see him develop over the years.”