Jenning's exit is Penrith's gain

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Penrith Panthers ... secured a horde of young stars after releasing Michael Jennings. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

AT his lowest ebb, Isaac John tried to sleep the days away.

He would draw the curtains on his tiny Wakefield apartment and, with snow falling outside, look to shave three, maybe four hours from the reality of an ailing league career. Of increasing depression.

Matt Moylan. Source: News Limited

Of a footy dream which, inside, this schoolboy prodigy knew was already dead.

"My problems, yeah, they'd taken over everything," John recalls softly. "I'd fallen out with the coach, wasn't getting a run; most afternoons the sun had set by four o'clock and I'd just be home by myself, sitting in the dark.

"Even this Christmas just gone, I tried to sleep through it.

"Then Christmas Day rolled into New Year and, yeah, rock bottom. I was actually making plans to walk out on my contract, to go back to New Zealand, find a job, settle down . . . and then Michael Jennings left Penrith."

Yep, welcome to Ground Zero.

Adam Docker. Source: News Limited

To that day way back in January day when, with Panthers supremo Phil Gould being grilled for releasing a $600,000 NSW Origin star, his coaching staff were already taking the first quiet steps towards spending it.

See, while much of the ongoing debate out west surrounds Gould's infamous Five Year Plan, the real story is the players behind it. Or more specifically, the five youngsters who, secured with Jennings' cash, are now accepting the greatest challenge since Royce Simmons vowed to have a beer with everyone in Penrith.

Specifically, to become the Panthers' bedrock.

And it's players like Matty Moylan, the blond fullback whose debut started with Andrew Johns likening him to a member of One Direction and, within 80 minutes, three try-assists and one sideline conversion, finished with Mark Geyer tweeting about it being the best debut since Freddy Fittler.

Also on the list is 22-year-old Adam Docker, the Shellharbour lock with 16 top grade games despite starting the year outside the NRL media guide, and Bryce Cartwright, nephew of club great John.

Which leaves the final member of Gould's Fab Five, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak: the teen sensation League Central first unveiled back in May when he was the only Toyota Cup player on our Superstars 21 and Under list.

James Segeyaro. Source: News Limited

Yet, still, the undisputed wildcard of the group is John.

The quietly-spoken Tokoroa product who, back in January, was ready to retire at 24. Who baulked even when Panthers assistant Dave Fairleigh called to offer a lifeline.

"Because my self-belief, it was gone," John recalls. "I remember thinking 'man, I can't even cut it in the English Super League, how am I gunna survive the NRL?'

"(Laughs) Not that I said anything. I was packed up and out of Wakefield in two days.

"But I didn't have much faith in myself because, my first year in England, I really fell out with the coach, Richard Agar. Then when I returned for this year's pre-season, he called me into his office and said I wouldn't be played. He said form, injuries, none of it mattered, I just wouldn't be getting a start.

"And for a while, I worked my arse off to prove him wrong. Trained hard, played well in the trials; in my eyes I'd done enough. But, just like he'd said ... it was no."

Which is when everything changed.

Growing up, little Isaac had always displayed the work ethic you'd expect a kid whose best mate since kindergarten, his constant shadow in training, was Wallaby Quade Cooper.

A wonderboy who when gifted his NRL debut at the Warriors in 2011 - by then coach Ivan Cleary - exploded into arguably the form halfback of the premiership overnight.

But then, in round 24, the Warriors travelled to Penrith. And John did his ACL. Suddenly, forced to watch on from the sidelines as another rookie, a kid by the name of Shaun Johnson, not only played the Warriors into a grand final, but himself into a New Zealand Test side and then The Next Benji Marshall headlines.

Asked about the sliding doors John says: "There's no point having any malice because nothing was going to stop Shaun.

"England just didn't work and, after realising I was wanted, I stopped doing extras and slipped into a party lifestyle.

"It just wasn't worth it anymore."

Enter Penrith.

Those battling westies who, despite starting the season as wooden spoon favourites, are now just one win outside the eight with John looking every inch the playmaker he was always talked up to be.

A footballer who, dare we say it, appears to be home?

"Ah, honestly, I haven't even thought beyond this week," the playmaker says with a nervous laugh that confirms it's no cliche.

"Every week when Ivan names the team, I'm still nervous, sitting there waiting for my name to be called.

"I guess, I've got England to thank for that. I'm not sure I could ever be complacent ... not when I know how easily it can all be taken away."

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