Coen Hess is one of those players capable of changing the momentum of game with one damaging run. Hess played junior league for Across the Waves Tigers in Bundaberg, where he was born.

When the family moved to Mount Isa, he played with Black Stars, before signing a scholarship deal with the North Queensland Cowboys, in 2012. Later that year, Hess represented Queensland Under 16s, who were coached by Anthony Siebold.

The hulking forward burst onto the NRL scene with the Cowboys at the 2015 Auckland Nines. Later that year, Hess went on to represent Queensland Under 20s and the Junior Kangaroos, while also making his NRL debut, in a 50-16 win over the Warriors in Auckland, in Round 24. 

To get an opportunity to run around with (Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan) , is a dream come true.

Coen Hess FOG #190

In 2017, Hess was one of the most destructive players in the game, scoring 13 tries, posting an average of 109 metres and 23 tackles per game. He was named in the QAS Emerging squad at the start of the year, and went on to make his State of Origin debut for Queensland, off the bench in Game II in Sydney, playing alongside his boyhood hero and North Queensland team mate, Johnathan Thurston.

Hess also played in the 2017 decider in Brisbane, with Queensland winning 22-6.

The Cowboys made it all the way to the 2017 NRL grand final, despite a season-ending injury to Thurston in June. Hess came off the bench in the 34-6 loss to Melbourne Storm.

He was again selected for the Maroons in 2018, and played all three games of the series, off the interchange bench. After being overlooked in 2019, Hess returned to Origin action in 2020, playing second row in Game I in Adelaide, a match won 18-14 by Queensland.

At the start of the 2022 season, Hess had played 118 NRL matches for the Cowboys, mainly in the second row, but also at prop, lock and centre.