Hull FC boss John Cartwright has confirmed yet another member of his squad has been ruled out for the remainder of the Super League season.
The club confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Herman Ese’ese has ruptured his Achilles and will be sidelined for around six to eight months. Given his importance to the side, that’s a huge blow to the Black and Whites, and Ese’ese joins an list of players ruled out that already includes John Asiata, Will Pryce, Jed Cartwright, Ligi Sao and Liam Knight.
Well, Ed Chamberlain can now be added to that list, too, with Cartwright confirming he won’t play again this season due to a hamstring injury. The centre/back-rower picked up the injury midway through the first half of the clash with Leeds Rhinos on Saturday.
He tried to continue but was ultimately forced off the field a minute or so later and taken down the tunnel for treatment.
Cartwright had now revealed the extent of the injury, with Chamberlain being ruled out of Hull’s remaining three games.
“He’s done a hamstring,” Cartwright said in his pre-Hull derby press conference. “It’s a grade three tear and he’ll be out for the season.”
Cade Cust and Liam Watts also picked up injuries against the Rhinos. On those, Cartwright added: “We’ll give (Liam) until Saturday. We’re hoping he will be okay.
“Cade will be fine. It’s just wear and tear on the back of a long season but he should be fine.”
Sam Eseh will be given until Saturday, too, as he bids to overcome a hamstring problem. And, Cartwright could probably do with the Wigan Warriors loanee after seeing Ese’ese ruled out.
That injury means Hull will definitely be without their two first choice props and with doubts over Watts and Eseh, Cartwright knows his side could well find themselves up against it through the middle when they take on league leaders Hull KR on Sunday.
Hull FC boss John Cartwright on Herman Ese’ese
On the Ese’ese blow, Cartwright said: “He’s got a full rupture of his Achilles. We’ll get him in as soon as we can and get him on the road to recovery.
“He’s coming to terms with it now, which is tough. He’s prided himself on the minutes that he has played and the impact that he’s had on games.
“He’s been tremendous for us, and even though sides have been aiming up on him, as he is that dangerous, it’s made him an even better player.
“It’s a blow and it’s tough – you watch on TV and you just don’t see how much of an impact injuries have on players unless you’re with them every day. It’s their livelihood; it’s what they know and what they love to do as well.
“It can be really tough on the players that go through it, but you’ve got to rely on your teammates and the club to get through it.”
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