WENDELL HUSSEY | Cadet | CONTACT

National Parks have today granted rugby league great and Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater protection under the Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016).

The announcement comes after the NRL cleared the champion fullback to play in this weekend’s premiership decider.

The NRL’s decision came after a mammoth judiciary hearing whereby Slater’s legal counsel Cameron Smith pleaded the case for a couple of hours.

Slater will join the likes of the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat, The Leadbeater’s Possum and Yellow-Spotted Treefrog as native species in need of protection.

With Slater in doubt for the Grand Final after what looked to any non-Melbourne Storm fan like a clear shoulder charge in the Preliminary Final against the Cronulla Sharks, the nations wildlife body decided to make sure the boy from Innisfail got the send-off he deserved.

The move is being heralded as a landmark for conservation in the country, with Slater being the first human inducted into the list usually reserved for birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

National Parks Boss Wally Vautin told The Advocate today that the decision was a national first.

“We saw that Billy, as one of the games greatest players needed to go out in a fitting way,” Vautin said.

“So we decided to step in and add him to the list of native species that are in need of protection.”

“Let the boys play! You need to bend the rules depending upon the narratives in the game!”

More to come.