EXCLUSIVE: Lachlan Ilias believes he's a better play after his injury. Penrith's grand final try could be why

When Lachlan Ilias was dropped by South Sydney early last season, the worst possible result followed when he seriously injured his leg in NSW Cup.

The injury ruled him out for the season and he never pulled on a Rabbitohs jersey again.

Fast forward to now as the Dragons halfback, and he's a playmaker who made the most of his time sitting on the couch.

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With those new skills, there's a lofty goal in mind for the club.

"Team wise, without thinking too far ahead, we want to make top four," he told Wide World of Sports.

"Obviously the boys were one win away from making the eight last year.

"I think they were pretty bummed they didn't make the eight (but now the focus is) taking that extra step and our eyes are on top four.

"We want to be the best and we're really excited to compete against the best as well."

For Ilias, the leg injury meant he only returned to full training around Christmas after his surgeon described as "one of the worst surgeries you can have".

"I was in a lot of pain after surgery ... I was bed-ridden for two, three weeks, that was pretty tough," he said.

"Every time I got up I had these blood rushes go through my leg and my leg was so pink and blue and swollen already that the blood rush would be worse than when I broke it.

"That was tough but once you get through that you can see progress, slowly but surely coming, it's all worth it."

From that, Ilias believes he's "a better player".

"I don't know how I did it but I watched footy from a different perspective from not being on the field or worrying about it," he explained.

"I took a step back and analysed the game differently, even though I haven't been on the field since April, I feel like I'm a better player just by watching it and stepping back and seeing how the game unfolds so hopefully I can show myself that I'll be right, I don't think there's many better clubs to do that than the Dragons right now."

When asked what exactly he analysed and how he improved, the name Nathan Cleary comes out.

The Panthers maestro went into his groove during finals, like always, and secured the Panthers a four-peat.

And there was one play during Penrith's run that Ilias watched. The play had come up during the preview to the grand final and was tinkered with throughout the finals.

Brad Fittler described it as a "BK" play on Freddy & The Eighth.

In week one of finals, it came into the spotlight when Shaun Johnson analysed it on the Play On Sport Show.

The Panthers had engaged James Tedesco at the play the ball on the line, with Cleary having Paul Alamoti and Luke Garner pushing up flat with Jarome Luai at the back. Cleary grubbered and Garner scored.

Against the Sharks in the preliminary final, the same set up featured again with Cleary throwing a cut-out pass to Alamoti who scored.

Then came the grand final. You'd think a team as well prepared as the Storm would have picked this play to parts.

But as always, the Panthers were one step ahead.

The same set-up was there, this time with Scott Sorensen holding back every so slightly.

Cleary passed to Alamoti who turned his back on the defence and hit Luai before quick hands to Turuva who scored in the corner.

The play wasn't missed on Ilias.

"I did see that video when Turuva scored, it's smart," he said.

"That's obviously something they'd built over the weeks prior.

"It all depends on defence as well but I was really impressed with that and I've taken a similar mindset in terms of analysing defences in terms of what they do."