While in Bundaberg, he played junior rugby league for the Across The Waves Tigers club and attended St Patrick's Catholic School.
In 2012, Hess signed a scholarship deal with the North Queensland Cowboys and moved to Townsville where he attended Ignatius Park College.
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.
[12] 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.
[14] 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.
[21] 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.
In February, Hess was a member of the North Queensland club's 2020 NRL Nines winning squad, scoring three tries in the tournament.
[29] In October, Hess was named in the Queensland State of Origin squad, starting at second-row in their 18–14 Game 1 win over New South Wales.
[citation needed] In round 24 of the 2022 NRL season, Hess was sent to the sin bin during North Queensland's 20-10 loss against South Sydney.
[31] Hess played a total of 23 games for North Queensland in 2022 as the club reached the preliminary final before losing to Parramatta 24-20.