If there was one thing coming back from injury did for Elijah Taylor, it has made him feel closer to his teammates than ever before.

The Penrith Panthers backrower is raring to go for the 2015 NRL season, after facing a long stint on the sideline, injuring his ACL in 2014.

Although it was difficult to watch his teammates make a run in the finals, and then New Zealand play in the Four Nations, Taylor said the excitement was now brewing for the new season.

media_camera Elijah Taylor injured during the Canterbury Bulldogs v Penrith Panthers NRL round 21. (Mark Evans)

“During my time in rehab, I learnt a lot about our captain (Peter Wallace), I learnt a lot about (Tyrone) Peachey, and Bryce Cartwright, because you spend a lot of time together,” the 24-year-old told the Penrith Press.

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“I also got to know our new rehab and strength and conditioning coach, got to know everyone better, which is great, because this is only my second year here at Penrith.

“But the mental game is the main area you develop, especially hurting your knee, you’re working on your confidence and it’s about getting back up, and backing yourself.”

media_camera Bryce Cartwright and Elijah Taylor got to know each other much better through injury rehab. (Brett Costello)

Taylor, along with Cartwright, Wallace and Peachey, is firing to go, with focus firmly set on the final trial match against the Parramatta Eels at Pepper Stadium tomorrow.

“Anytime you start playing footy again the boys get excited,” he said.

“Our main focus is how we win games, what it takes, and that’s competing our sets and being aggressive, but tight, in defence.

“It’s all about the little victories in games – they all add up to the overall win. We’re focusing on just getting things right that we’ve been working on for three months.”

media_camera Taylor during the round 7 rugby league game between the Penrith Panthers and Gold Coast Titans. (Brett Costello)

The Panthers are then expected to field a next-to-full-strength team for round one against the Bulldogs.

“I’m sure after Parra, the boys will be pumped for the Dogs. It was all about getting the fire back in the belly, getting hungry to play first grade and getting back to what we do best,” Taylor said.

Panthers executive general manager rugby league Phil Gould visited Bathurst on Wednesday ahead of the club’s round two clash against the Gold Coast Titans at Carrington Park.

He also attended a coaching clinic, and shared his knowledge with coaches from the western region.