In 2012, Hess represented the Queensland under-16 side. In 2014, Hess made his
NYC debut for the Cowboys, scoring a try in his side's loss to the
Newcastle Knights. Later that year he represented the Queensland under-18 side and was a member of the Townsville Stingers' victorious Mal Meninga Cup and National Under-18 Championship sides.
2015 In January 2015, Hess was a member of Queensland's Emerging Maroons squad and played for the Cowboys in the
2015 NRL Auckland Nines tournament. On 19 March 2015, Hess re-signed with the Cowboys for a further three seasons. On 2 May 2015, Hess represented the
Junior Kangaroos against
Junior Kiwis, starting at second-row in the 22-20 win at
Robina Stadium. On 8 July 2015, Hess would represent for
Queensland Under 20s against
New South Wales Under 20s, starting at second-row in the 32-16 loss at
Suncorp Stadium. In June 2015, Hess made his
Queensland Cup debut for the
Mackay Cutters, scoring two tries and setting up another in their 28-18 victory over the
Redcliffe Dolphins in which Hess was given man of the match honours. In Round 24 of the
2015 NRL season, Hess made his first-grade debut for the
North Queensland Cowboys, playing off the interchange bench, scoring a try on debut in North Queensland's impressive 50-16 win at
Mt Smart Stadium. This was Hess's only NRL match in the season. On 14 September 2015, Hess was named at second-row in the 2015 NYC Team of the Year.
2016 On 6 January, Hess was selected in the
QAS under-20s Origin squad. In February 2016, Hess was selected in North Queensland's
2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad. In Round 12 against the
St George Illawarra Dragons, Hess made his first appearance in North Queensland's first grade team for 2016, playing off the interchange bench in the 14-10 loss at
WIN Stadium. In North Queensland's sudden-death semi final match against Queensland rivals the
Brisbane Broncos, Hess started at second-row for the injured
Ethan Lowe, playing the whole 90 minutes, scoring a try and ran 188 metres as North Queensland won 26-20 in extra time at
1300SMILES Stadium. Hess would start again at second-row for North Queensland's Preliminary Final match against the
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, scoring a try in the 32-20 loss at
Sydney Football Stadium. Hess finished the
2016 NRL season with him playing in 8 matches and scoring 4 tries for North Queensland.
2017 In January 2017, Hess was selected in the
QAS Emerging Origin squad. In February 2017, Hess was selected in the Cowboys
2017 NRL Auckland Nines squad. After showing impressive form for North Queensland, scoring 10 tries in 13 matches, Hess was in contention to make into the Queensland State of Origin squad. After Queensland were beaten convincingly by New South Wales 28-4 in Game 1 of the
2017 State of Origin series, the Maroons squad had a major cleanout and Hess was selected to make his representative debut for
Queensland in Game 2 of the series, playing off the interchange bench in the Maroons 18-16 win at
ANZ Stadium. Hess would also play in Game 3 off the interchange bench in the Maroons series 22-6 win at
Suncorp Stadium. On 1 October 2017, in North Queensland's
2017 NRL Grand Final against the
Melbourne Storm Hess played off the interchange bench in the 34-6 defeat at
ANZ Stadium. Hess finished his impressive
2017 NRL season with him being the North Queensland club's second highest tryscorer with 13 tries in 27 matches.
2018 Hess became a regular starter at second row for the North Queensland outfit in the
2018 NRL season. Of his 23 games for the side, he started in 19 of them. He was once again selected for Queensland, playing all three games off the interchange in the
2018 State of Origin series. On 14 December 2018, Hess signed a three-year extension with the North Queensland club until the end of the 2022 season.
2019 Hess played 22 games for the North Queensland club, starting eight games at second row and four at centre. In a disappointing season, Hess lost his starting second row position for North Queensland and his spot in the Queensland side. He scored just one try, his lowest try tally since his debut season in 2015.
2020 In February, Hess was a member of the North Queensland club's
2020 NRL Nines winning squad, scoring three tries in the tournament. Hess played 15 games in 2020, starting all 15 at and scoring three tries. Following a Round 16 loss to the
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Hess was charged with a crusher tackle and was suspended for one game. In October, Hess was named in the
Queensland State of Origin squad, starting at in their 18–14 Game 1 win over
New South Wales.
2021 In June, Hess was 18th man for the Queensland State of Origin squads for both Games I and II. In Game III, he was rushed into the side as 19th man.
2022 Hess played a total of 23 games and scored 1 try for North Queensland in 2022 as the club reached the preliminary final before losing to
Parramatta 24-20.
2023 Hess played a total of 24 games and scored 2 tries for North Queensland in the
2023 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.
2024 Hess was ruled out of the entire season after suffering an ACL injury in a trial match in the pre-season. In May 2024, Hess has re-signed with the club on a three year extension.
2025 Hess played 21 matches for North Queensland in the
2025 NRL season as the club finished 12th on the table. ==Achievements and accolades==