Players to Watch At The Championships: Men's Open Division

From seasoned veterans hunting for their next trophy, to emerging stars ready to take the next step, here are the players to watch in the Men’s Open division this weekend at The Championships. 

Jaymon Bob – Central Queensland Bulls 

Back of an impressive performance at the Touch Football All Stars, Jaymon Bob is heading into The Championships tomorrow with a ton of momentum. Silky footwork and a sharp step to his repertoire, the Rockhampton representative has demonstrated a high Touch Footy IQ for his age.  

From earning player of the final honours in 2022, to shining bright on the Touch Football All Stars stage, Jaymon is no stranger to performing under pressure. Expect him to rise to the occasion come the later stages of this tournament.  

James Hegedus – South West Queensland Swans 

One of the most exciting players in Touch Football today, expect to see James Hegedus make a huge impact at The Championships this year. In 2023, he was awarded the Players’ Player award for his performances at the Opens Trans-Tasman Test Series in his Opens debut. Through his rapid footwork and dynamic playmaking, the Queensland representative has the special ability to turn a game on its head through individual brilliance. 

His highlights in Brisbane prove that not only can he be trusted to lead a team on attack, but he can also be trusted to come up big in the crucial moments of a game. Expect the Toowoomba native to come up big again as he continues to cement himself on the national stage.  

Dylan Hennessey – South Queensland Sharks 

One of the greatest that the sport has ever seen, Dylan Hennessey will once again rep the South Queensland region as he partakes in his 15th national campaign. Incredible vision, unbelievable footwork, and exceptional speed, there aren’t enough superlatives to compliment his game, with the Australian Men’s Open captain a constant handful for defenders all over the field. 

Breaking ankles across the park, throwing flick passes on instinct, or long balls to the wing, Dylan Hennessey makes it all look too easy. If you see Dylan Hennessey on the team sheet, you can bet he’ll be one to watch. 

Chris Lennon – Hunter Western Hornets 

The Central Coast representative is armed with a sharp pass, and a ton of speed, as Chris Lennon looks to be a key player to watch out for at The Championships. 2023 was a breakout year at State and National level for Chris, notably at the Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup in May where he was awarded the Troy Malcolm award for Australian Men's player of the tournament. 

In doing so he became the first recipient of the award whilst playing in the Mixed division. He was also crowned the junior male player of the year at the NSW Touch Performance Awards last August. Ending 2023 with a memorable NSW State Cup campaign (including winning Player of the Final in the Men’s Open division), expect Chris Lennon to further establish himself at the top level of the game as he competes in the Men’s Open division at The Championships for the second time in his career. 

Michael Law – Townsville Saints 

Michael Laws’ wealth of big game experience will be crucial to this Townsville Saints side, as they make the trip to Coffs Harbour for the first time. His leadership and calm presence under pressure will be pivotal to guiding this side through a challenging campaign. One of the deadliest steps in the game, the North Queenslander has 16 tries in 27 appearances for Australia at Opens level, as well as two World Cup Gold Medals. 

Not just robust with his footwork, the Townsville native also has a strong short-ball game exhibiting the perfect combination of timing and power. Expect Michael Law to be a source of inspiration to this Townsville side as they make their National Championships debut.