{{short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer (born 2002)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Izack Tago |fullname = |image = Tages Tago.jpg |image_size = |position = {{rlp|CE}} |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|04|05|df=yes}} |birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|184|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|93|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Penrith Panthers}} |year1start = 2021 |year1end = present |appearances1 = 105 |tries1 = 43 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 172 |teamA = Samoa |yearAstart = 2022 |yearAend = present |appearancesA = 7 |triesA = 3 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 12 |new = yes |source = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/izack-tago/summary.html|title=Izack Tago - Playing Career - RLP}}</ref> |updated = {{date|{{REVISIONTIMESTAMP}}|DMY}} | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | father = | mother = | spouse = | education = | alma_mater = | relatives = Jake Tago (brother) }} }}
'''Izack Tago''' (born 5 April 2002) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|ce}} for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. He won the 2022, 2023 and 2024 NRL Grand Finals with the Penrith Panthers.
==Background== Tago played his junior rugby league for the St Mary's Saints. He is of Samoan descent.
==Playing career== ===2021=== In round 13 of the 2021 NRL season, Tago made his first grade debut for Penrith against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/01/nrl-round-13-squad-announcements/ |title=Round 13 team lists |publisher=NRL.com |date=1 June 2021}}</ref>
===2022=== In round 1 of the 2022 NRL season, Tago scored the first try of the year in the opening match as Penrith defeated Manly 28-6.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/reigning-premiers-penrith-make-huge-statement-in-nrl-season-opener/news-story/04f31a27c4be7dcaf541d24de1c444cd?amp/|title=Reigning premiers Penrith make huge statement in NRL season opener|website=www.news.com.au}}</ref>
Tago played 26 games for Penrith in the 2022 NRL season including the clubs 2022 NRL Grand Final victory over Parramatta.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/we-hate-parra-panther-mocks-eels-as-koroisau-pokes-fun-at-tigers-20221003-p5bmr0.html/|title=We hate Parra as Panthers mock Eels as Koroisau pokes fun at Tigers|website=www.smh.com.au|date=3 October 2022 }}</ref>
In October, Tago was named in the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/rugby-league-world-cup-2021-squad-lists|title=Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021|date=4 October 2022|website=Love Rugby League}}</ref>
===2023=== On 18 February, Tago played in Penrith's 13-12 upset loss to St Helens RFC in the 2023 World Club Challenge.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64692630|title=St Helens: World Club Challenge win 'seismic for British rugby league'|work=BBC Sport }}</ref> In round 5 of the 2023 NRL season, Tago scored two tries in Penrith's 53-12 victory over Canberra.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-jaeman-salmon-paul-kent-ivan-cleary-penrith-panthers-jarome-luai-weakgutted-dog-ricky-stuart-canberra-try-celebration/news-story/bd32f2237273eb85c5c034e0dcf9dd03/|title='It was a mug's comment': Kenty blasts lack of 'class and humility' at Panthers|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=3 April 2023 }}</ref> Following Penrith's narrow loss to South Sydney in round 8 of the 2023 NRL season, it was announced that Tago would be ruled out for an indefinite period with a pectoral injury. In round 18, Tago made 13 tackle breaks, one try assist and scored two tries against Melbourne at Marvel Stadium in their 34-16 victory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-30/nrl-melbourne-storm-penrith-panthers-south-sydney-new-zealand/102527942/|title=Panthers make statement with Melbourne mauling, Rabbitohs score stirring upset over Warriors|newspaper=ABC News|date=30 June 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/01/01/casualty-ward-all-the-latest-nrl-injury-news-updates-returns-details/|title=Casualty Ward: Hamlin-Uele, Chester suffer knee injuries|website=www.nrl.com|date=15 July 2023 }}</ref> In round 20, Tago scored two tries as Penrith defeated the Dolphins 24-14.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-16/nrl-warriors-sharks-dolphins-penrith-eels-titans/102604874/|title=Eels pip Titans 25-24 in NRL thriller after Panthers, Warriors come away with wins|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> Tago played 16 games for Penrith in the 2023 NRL season including the clubs 26-24 victory over Brisbane in the 2023 NRL Grand Final as Penrith won their third straight premiership.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2023/oct/01/nrl-grand-final-2023-penrith-panthers-vs-brisbane-broncos-live-updates-scores-results-teams-squads-kick-off-time-accor-stadium-sydney/|title=NRL grand final 2023: Penrith Panthers defeat Brisbane Broncos – as it happened|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 2023 |last1=Howcroft |first1=Jonathan }}</ref>
===2024=== On 24 February, Tago played in Penrith's 2024 World Club Challenge final loss against Wigan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/68337685|title=World Club Challenge: Wigan Warriors 16-12 Penrith Panthers - Cherry and Whites crowned world champions for fifth time|work=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2024 }}</ref> In round 3 of the 2024 NRL season, Tago scored two tries for Penrith in their grand final rematch against Brisbane. Penrith would win the game 34-12.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-live-broncos-out-to-avenge-grand-final-heartbreak-as-epic-panthers-test-awaits/news-story/cf2c247cb11971781160379c92dfeee6/|title=Panthers run riot in grand final rematch after Broncos lose Walsh to ugly injury: What we learned|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=21 March 2024 }}</ref> In round 23, Tago scored two tries for Penrith in their 36-34 comeback victory against Parramatta.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-parramatta-eels-vs-penrith-panthers-live-updates-score-stats-video-nathan-cleary-jarome-luai/news-story/16b18144abac79d30a774643aae24451/|title=Panthers steal victory in CRAZY finish as late Gutho miss denies devastated Eels|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=9 August 2024 }}</ref> Tago played a total of 26 games for Penrith in the 2024 NRL season. On 6 October, he played in the 2024 NRL Grand Final with the Penrith side, the fourth consecutive win for the club, with Tago having played in three.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-06/nrl-grand-final-2024-quick-hits-biting-bunker-penrith-panthers/104422068/|title=NRL grand final 2024 quick hits: Biting allegation, Panthers halves swansong and a controversial bunker decision|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref>
===2025=== Tago played 25 matches for Penrith in the 2025 NRL season scoring 7 tries as the club finished 7th on the table. Tago played in Penrith's narrow preliminary final loss against Brisbane.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/penrith-panthers-2025-nrl-season-review/3571dc9ebfa9e2c96d693b49/|title=Penrith Panthers' 2025 season in review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}</ref>
== Statistics == .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/panthers/izack-tago/|title=Official NRL profile of Izack Tago for Penrith Panthers | NRL.com|website=National Rugby League}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |- | align=center|2021 | rowspan="6" |{{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} Penrith Panthers | align=right |6 | align=right |1 | align=right |4 |- | align=center|2022 | align=right |26 | align=right |13 | align=right |52 |- | align=center|2023 | align=right |16 | align=right |10 | align=right |40 |- | align=center|2024 | align=right |26 | align=right |10 | align=right |40 |- | align=center|2025 | align=right |25 | align=right |7 | align=right |28 |- | align="center" |2026 | align="right" |2 | align="right" |1 | align="right" |4 |- | | align="left" |'''Totals''' | align="right" |101 | align="right" |'''42''' | align="right" |'''168''' |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/penrith-panthers/izack-tago/ Penrith Panthers profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215738/https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/penrith-panthers/izack-tago/ |date=2 June 2021 }} *[https://www.nrl.com/players/rugby-league-world-cup/samoa/izack-tago/ Samoa profile]
{{Penrith Panthers squad}} {{Penrith Panthers squad 2022 NRL premiership}} {{Penrith Panthers squad 2023 NRL premiership}} {{Penrith Panthers squad 2024 NRL premiership}} {{Samoa 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tago, Izack}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen Category:Australian people of American Samoan descent Category:Australian people of Samoan descent Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Penrith Panthers players Category:Rugby league players from Sydney Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:Samoa national rugby league team players Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent
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