Panthers centre Izack Tago has been slapped with a ban after a hip drop tackle that left Jye Gray with a syndesmosis injury that could rule him out for several weeks.

Tago was binned for his part in the tackle in the early stages of his side’s victory over South Sydney on Thursday night and will now sit out Penrith’s home match against the Bulldogs next Friday night. He can appeal, but would then be a doubt for their Magic Round meeting with the Warriors.

Jacob Host was also sat down during the same game after making contact with the legs of Panthers kicker Brad Schneider.

He has been charged and faces two games on the sidelines, three if Souths dispute the grading. That rules the backrower out of next Saturday’s trip to Kogarah to face the Dragons and the Cowboys at Magic.

Tago’s suspension looked likely from the moment the tackle was made.

Host is set to join a long list of outs at Souths, who also lost Gray (ankle) and halfback Dean Hawkins (quad) to injuries in the club’s first game since firing coach Jason Demetriou on Tuesday.

Campbell Graham, Lachlan Ilias, Tyrone Munro, Tevita Tatola and Richie Kennar are also out injured, but Latrell Mitchell is due back from suspension to face the Dragons next Saturday at Kogarah.