Big Pete
Referee
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I don't remember that tactic being that common to begin with. I know what you're talking about and do recall a Titans game where they deliberately kicked out on the full to disrupt the Storm. However I also remember the 2010 season opener where the Dragons did it to Jarryd Hayne. It was a variation on keeping the ball out of play which had been around for decades and was famously pushed by Brian Smith to beat Brisbane (and was successful).Oh he definitely redefined the fullback position. They even brought in the 7 tackle set to stop players kicking the ball dead rather than have Slater bring it out of the in goal.
But it wasn't because he was the first (or best) ball playing fullback. I was because in his prime he was the complete package which has become the benchmark for modern fullbacks. Plenty of number ones could do something better than Billy, no one could do everything as well.
That whole era was made up of fullbacks who could do everything. There was even an argument around that time that Billy wasn't even the best fullback at his own club. However what made Billy was his competitiveness and ability to adapt his game and improve as he got older.
If you're going to push for Slater revolutionising the fullback position, it was how he got the leading with your foot rule outlawed in the in-goal. Came up with a brilliant play in that Broncos/Storm 08 classic, not so much in that 2008 GF.