Target Tago and cash in: If Herbie goes bananas, Brisbane could exploit one of Panthers’ few problem areas

With one measly feeble tackle, Izack Tago has put a target on himself for Brisbane in Sunday’s NRL Grand Final. 

It’s not that Tago is a poor defender, it’s just that when you’re part of a Penrith juggernaut that has very few weaknesses, a slip-up like his missed tackle on Justin Olam last Friday night stands out like a sore thumb. 

And that’s where Brisbane’s not-so-secret attacking weapon of Herbie Farnworth can be a huge advantage.

The Panthers switched Tago, who had played just one match in two months due to hamstring and pectoral injuries, to the right edge in the preliminary final to separate him and fellow 21-year-old Sunia Turuva in defence. 

Stephen Crichton swapped over to the left with Turuva while Tago saddled up in between Brian To’o and Nathan Cleary, two of the best defenders for their position in the NRL. 

But it backfired in the 10th minute when the Storm isolated PNG veteran Justin Olam onto Tago and the Penrith centre came up with a matador grab as the Melbourne bull powered over the try line.

They went back to the well a few minutes later and Tago made a bad read by rushing in on Trent Loiero.

But after creating the overlap, the second-rower’s pass to Olam was slightly behind him and the play broke down just metres from the stripe and what would have been a 10-4 lead to Melbourne. 

It’s an area where the Broncos can cause carnage at Accor Stadium in the title decider. 

Reece Walsh has racked up 40 line break assists this year (equalled only by Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes) but unlike some fullbacks, he is equally adept as he sweeps around the left or right to create a numerical advantage.

When he goes left, he has a strong finisher on his inside in edge forward Kurt Capewell or Farnworth and Jesse Arthars on his outside. 

After a few years struggling to establish an NRL berth, Arthars’ breakout season has demoted club stalwart Corey Oates to the bench while Farnworth has rivalled Crichton and South Sydney’s Campbell Graham as the most impressive centres in the NRL this season. 

Even though it looks a better option to target Tago, he is by no means a liability by NRL standards and his errors against Olam were probably more down to rustiness than shoddiness. 

His tackle efficiency is only slightly below 90%, which is strong when compared to most other centres, but Brisbane will try to exploit any weakness, perceived or otherwise, they can find.

Farnworth and centre partner Kotoni Staggs each average 15 possessions per game so the Broncos like to spread their attacking love around.

After making his debut late in 2019, the Broncos persisted with blooding Farnworth and several other rising stars like Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas, Staggs and Tom Flegler during the pain of the wooden spoon season the following year and are now reaping the rewards.

Unfortunately for Brisbane fans, the Dolphins will get the benefit of the prime years of Farnworth’s career with the 23-year-old joining the NRL’s newest team in 2024 on a lucrative three-year deal. 

With Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow putting in a hot-and-cold season at club level in which he was regularly alternated into centre, the fullback’s role is up for grabs for Farnworth at Redcliffe and he’s shown more than enough on Brisbane’s left edge to suggest he can succeed in the No.1 jersey.

Among regular centres, Farnworth ranked third for line breaks (14) and second for tackle breaks with 108, while also proving to be dependable in defence with only 22 missed tackles in 25 outings while Staggs on the right edge came up with 74 from the same number of games.

Perhaps the Panthers will direct their attack more so to Staggs, giving Crichton some one-on-one time.

Farnworth scored Brisbane’s only two tries in the Round 1 upset at Penrith when he marked up against Crichton, who coincidentally is also leaving after the Grand Final to chase a fullback berth, at Canterbury.

Walsh was not in the side that night due to a facial fracture but Farnworth ran off a clever Adam Reynolds pass which Crichton tried to intercept to score his first try and then showed impressive pace to outsprint To’o to win the race to an Ezra Mam kick for his other four-pointer.

Penrith are expected to target Walsh, along with Reynolds the chief playmaker, and coach Kevin Walters welcomed that possibility on Wednesday by saying the likes of Farnworth, Staggs and Ezra Mam would benefit.

Walters is adamant the Broncos are yet to play their best footy of 2023 but that does not mean that they will put in their best performance of the year on Sunday night when confronted with a Penrith side going for a third straight title. 

But if they are to throw a spanner into the works of the Panthers machine, a plan to target Tago could be their best way to break down one of the most efficient defensive outfits, if not the best, in the NRL era.