LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Panthers centre Izack Tago is facing potential scrutiny from the NRL match review committee after an illegal tackle on Parramatta player Kitione Kautoga during a recent game.
Kautoga left the field limping and was seen with his foot in an ice bucket later in the match, suffering from what appears to be a syndesmosis injury.
Reports indicate that Tago executed a hip-drop tackle by dragging Kautoga down from behind and twisting, which resulted in his body landing on Kautoga's legs.
Despite the tackle being a clear violation, it went unnoticed by both the on-field referee and Bunker official.
Parramatta coach Jason Ryles commented on the incident, stating, "It got him.
He'll probably miss a couple of weeks now.
He's in a moon-boot so we'll just manage it as like we have with the other syndesmosis injuries we've had this year." Ryles also expressed his frustration about the lack of punishment for Tago during the game, saying, "Very." The situation was compounded by the fact that Tago remained on the field and later scored a try in the 54th minute, helping the Panthers secure a 32-10 victory.
Kautoga, who has been one of the few bright spots for the Eels in a challenging 2025 season, had scored an impressive try early in the match but was visibly frustrated as he sat on the sidelines with his foot heavily iced.