you are actually insane.
Look lock has always been known as the 5-8 for the forwards they traditionally participated in backline moves as a ball player. Remember guys like Barrett, Fittler, Wagon and Carroll all spend time as locks and 5-8s and players like Luke Ricketson who were very good non-bally playing locks struggled to get any game time in rep footy (Luke actually attributed his lack of ball playing for his inability to regularly crack rep footy).
So the idea is not new to rugby league but ball playing backrowers normally play wider (i.e SBW, Stewart, Graham, Anasta when he played as a lock) because this reduces their defensive work load and they essentially play as a second 5-8 with the halfback playing through the middle. Paulo has did a great job verse brisbane in that he ran the ball like a middle forward should, he defended well and then he passes at the line and mixed it up (sometimes short, sometimes behind the man) and this is why we were so dangerous coming out of our own half. Also he did very well not to get involved to late in the tackle count and allowed the halves to create.