Samoan international Izack Tago says he is ready to play wherever the Panthers need him as he continues to embrace a versatile role within Ivan Cleary’s side.
The premiership-winning centre has spent time on the bench and in the back row this season, adding another dimension to his game as Penrith prepares for its top-of-the-table clash against the Warriors.
The versatile Samoan representative has been named in the centres against the Warriors in the top-of-the-table clash.
“I’m happy to go wherever my coach needs me, it doesn’t really bother me,” Tago said.
“I’m just trying to keep learning the position and keep trying to play that — second row — and centre whenever the time comes, to play both positions the best I can.
“At the end of the day, whoever's playing the best is going to be playing.
“I was just training every day and tried to attack every day as it came, but obviously I knew the backs were going so well. I just tried to challenge the boys at training and did what I did best.”
I'm backing my ability to do whatever I can, wherever I am: Tago
The 24-year-old hasn’t found his permanent position for the Panthers this season, but he is eager to put his best foot forward wherever the team needs him
Tago plans to use his benching at the start of the year as motivation to lock down a spot in the 19 throughout the rest of 2026.
“There’s lots of elements of the game that are different but, at the end of the day, it’s a footy game, so a lot of the principles are still pretty similar.” he said.
“It’s probably a lot more tackling as opposed to running in the back row.”
Ivan Cleary has touched on Tago and his position moving forward, explaining why he shifted the premiership-winning centre to the back row.
“He was actually originally a backrower as a kid, playing his junior reps there. He didn’t really play centre until he got to NSW Cup, I think, and was unbelievable at it, so the back-row thing sort of disappeared," Cleary said.
“Obviously he missed out at the start of the season, things not really of his own doing, he lost a bit of preparation throughout the preseason.
“We just started playing him off the bench and thought he deserved a start and ultimately it’s only going to be good for him and us if he can manage both positions.”
By Rome Bennett - Panthers Junior Reporter/
