BY CURTIS WOODWARD

You are only as good as your last game so the saying goes but rugby league’s greatest ever fullback Billy Slater no doubt disagrees. Tonight, Slater is back, again and has everything to lose.

If the iconic Melbourne Storm custodian goes down tonight – his glittering career ends. It’s as brutal and as simple as that.

We are however hoping that the great fullback gets through the AAMI Park clash against Brisbane and finds the form that once made him a Golden Boot winner and the most dangerous footballer on the planet. Australian and Queensland jumpers, Dally M winner, premierships, Clive Churchill Medals, a Golden Boot, a Wally Lewis Medal and so on and so on and so on. People seem to forget just how mighty this man has been.

The NRL moves quickly. At Parramatta, fans speak of Bevan French like they once did Jarryd Hayne, New South Welshmen tip their hats to James Tedesco just as they did Anthony Minichiello. It all moves so quickly. Hell, some Storm fans had Cameron Munster as their starting fullback before the season began, perhaps assuming Billy was finished. But here he is again, climbing up off the canvas – ready to reclaim what is his.

He played seven games in 2015 before his troublesome shoulder gave out. As he returned for round one of 2016 against St George Illawarra, everything seemed right with the world for a fleeting moment. The Storm downed the Dragons 18-16 and Slater was back – it wasn’t the Slater of old but it was a step in the right direction. Then just before round two, the shoulder pulled up sore. That was it. More surgery and the entire season missed.

Seven games in 2015. One game in 2016.

But listen to Gary Belcher – one of our greatest fullbacks.

“Billy Slater is the best fullback I’ve ever seen,’’ Belcher said.

“If fit, he has to be Queensland’s fullback.

“Darius is a versatile guy and has said he would be happy to step aside and play on the wing if Billy is back to full fitness.

Just to get you in the mood…the best of @billyslater ⚡️ #BillyIsBack #purplepride pic.twitter.com/R9YP0vEDD6

— Melbourne Storm (@storm) March 16, 2017

No more training. I'm excited about getting back out on the field tomorrow night. #purplepride pic.twitter.com/vMykozM3Zq

— Billy Slater (@billyslater) March 15, 2017

“I’d love to see Billy back in the Queensland No. 1 jumper. It’s the least he deserves after everything he has gone through.

“I hope we see the best of him this year, starting against the Broncos. He’s either going to bust a shoulder and that will be the end of him, or he will fight back and be great for another two or three years.”

Belcher still regards Slater a better fullback than the man he lines up against tonight in Brisbane captain Darius Boyd.

A Maroons jersey will be the furthest thing from Slater’s mind tonight. All eyes will be on him and so will those of the Broncos big men. For all the respect he has from his opposition, they wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t rough him up – test the shoulder out. He’ll be hit with everything and hit some more. Every tackle he takes is an inch toward the light. Every time he gets up and plays the ball is a victory.

Slater deserves to be remembered long before he runs out onto AAMI Park this evening.

Remember the way he positions himself and instinctively knows where the ball will be kicked, taking it on the run and slicing his way back up field leaving scorched earth behind him, dodging and cutting, making defenders miss. Or when he’s lurking behind Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith, hitting the afterburners like a cheetah after its prey and scoring tries for fun. Or when he’s getting beaten and bashed by monsters as he puts his body on the line again and again. There’s never any getting away from him. Scoring tries, saving tries, dishing them up for teammates.

What does Valentine Holmes think?

“I can’t wait to watch Billy play again. I have only ever played against him once,” he said.

“…Billy Slater is everywhere. I have heard Gal (Paul Gallen) say, in rep footy, he is the best fullback defensively.”

Tonight we ride every run, every catch and every tackle.

Why?

Because rugby league’s greatest ever fullback deserves it.

@woodward_curtis