Fullback Billy Slater set to take on new 'Kid' on block HE is known as the Billy Slater of the English Super League and the New Zealand Warriors thought enough of him to sign him up for a reported $750,000 a season. But the real Billy Slater on Monday spoke up in Sam Tomkins" defence, declaring his rival fullback deserves to be known as his own man. The Kangaroos superstar will go head to head with Tomkins when the Aussies take on England in their opening World Cup clash on October 26. Told of the tag put on the English try-scoring freak, Slater said: "I think that's a little bit hard. I have been compared to people in the past too and I'm my own player. I'm sure Sam's his own player. I watch a bit of video of other players and you might take a little bit here off someone and a little bit there off someone else but you build your own game. Sam Tomkins in action for England. Picture: Swpix.com I'm sure Sam is building his own game and getting his own strengths and weaknesses and working them out. I don't think he would like that too much. But the YouTube clips suggest otherwise, with the similarities between Tomkins and Billy the Kid uncanny. The 24-year-old is lightning fast, with a step and swerve similar to Slater at his breathtaking best. Tomkins made rugby league history as a 19-year-old when he scored five tries on debut for Wigan - his first three tries came in the opening 12 minutes. Since then, he's chalked up a total of 144 tries in 152 games. In 19 Tests for his country, he has scored 19 tries. Tomkins will join the Warriors next year on a massive deal that will make him among the highest paid players in the NRL. He signed off his stint in the English Super League with victory for Wigan in the grand final over Warrington.