Brad Izzard can still remember his brother Craig trying to take his head off when they clashed in a fiery Penrith- Parramatta encounter.
Now, 34 years on, Jake Tago would love to put a shot on his famous brother Izack when they clash in the western Sydney NRL derby at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.
Before this season, Jake’s dream of NRL football had stalled and the 25-year-old was all set to start a carpentry apprenticeship. Little did he think he would make his NRL debut for the Eels a month ago – and certainly never dreamt he would line up on the same side of the field as Izack.
The pair still live under the same roof in the Penrith district, and will have breakfast together at their local cafe followed by a short stroll to a nearby park before going their separate ways ahead of the 8pm showdown.
“He’s taller and bigger, only because he steals all the food at home,” Jake told this masthead. “At the end of the day, we have our jobs to do out there. We’ll be as serious as we can. But if I have the chance to put a shot on him, I’ll try.
“He sleeps just down the hall. I’ve seen his notebook [full of plays] out a few times, and was tempted to go through it. But I left it.
Yeah, bro: Izack and Jake Tago will become the first set of brothers to meet in a Penrith-Parramatta derby in 34 years.Credit: Wolter Peeters/SMH
“Not many brothers get to do this. If it is my only opportunity to go against him, I’ll be grateful.”
Jake came through the Panthers system, and remained at home when the NRL competition relocated to Queensland in 2021 during COVID. He went back to the local A-grade where he won the competition for Cambridge Park. Roosters prop Terrell May was in the same team.
Izack, 22, is already a two-time premiership winner and idolised his older brother when they were younger.
An entourage of about 30 will be in the stands, including their parents, Stacey and Laki, and younger brother Levi, the current family favourite. Seven-time Grammy-nominated artist Khalid, in town for a show at the Opera House earlier this week, will also be in a corporate box after meeting a few of the Panthers – including his favourite, Mavrik Geyer.
A young Izack Tago posing up with big brother Jake.
Izack will start at right centre opposite Eels rookie and future Panther Blaize Talagi, with Jake on the left wing.
“Jake taught me most of what I know, and back in his day he was known for putting on a shot. I’ll have to be careful Friday night but he’ll be tackling me more than the other way around,” Tago said.
The Izzards were the last set of brothers to square off in an Eels-Panthers derby in 1990. Parramatta legend Ray Price played one game against his brother, Don, in 1982, while the McMartin brothers, John and Mal, played against each other four times between 1968 and 1971.
Brotherly love in Parramatta and Penrith games
John McMartin (Parramatta) v Mal McMartin (Penrith) 4 games 1968-71
John Moran (Parramatta) v Grahame Moran (Penrith) 1 game 1974
Ray Price (Parramatta) v Don Price (Penrith) 1 game 1982
Craig Izzard (Parramatta) v Brad Izzard (Penrith) 3 games 1988-90
Jake Tago (Parramatta) and Izack Tago (Penrith) 1 game 2024
Brad Izzard said his mother, Rachel, still had a photo of him and Craig walking off the field one wet night.
“We’re having a laugh with our arm around each other as we came off the field,” said Izzard, who has called Lennox Head home for 20 years.
“I’m not sure if we were talking about him trying to get revenge. I got him with a decent shot, then he tried to get me and finished up high. With today’s rules, he probably would have got weeks for it.”
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now