ANTHONY Milford has told relatives he will not be returning to Canberra in a blow to Raiders coach Ricky Stuarts hopes of blocking his likely move to the Broncos. As revealed by The Sunday Mail last month, Stuart travelled to Brisbane and met with the Milford family to discuss the prospect of the boom rookie staying in Canberra. But it is understood Milford has played his last game in a Raiders jumper. The 19-year-old has informed his cousin at the Broncos, under-20s prop Francis Molo, that he wants to remain with family in Brisbane when he returns from World Cup duty next month. Milford, who has a get-out clause relating to the health of his sick father Halo, will turn out for Samoa against New Zealand tomorrow in a Group B clash in Warrington. The Raiders whiz is contracted to the club until the end of next season, preventing NRL rivals from formally approaching him until November 1 this year. But from this Friday, potential suitors can hold negotiations with his management, giving Broncos operations chief Andrew Gee the ability to table a formal offer for Milford. Canberra are doing everything possible to accommodate Milford, but the gravity of his homesickness was best illustrated when the Raiders season ended six weeks ago. Within days of Canberras final game against Cronulla, Milford had returned to the Brisbane suburb of Inala to live with parents Halo and Marietta. Should Milford refuse to return to Canberra for pre-season, the Raiders face two scenarios: concede defeat and allow him to join the Broncos, or force him to sit out the 2014 campaign. Raiders chief executive Don Furner said yesterday the club would not activate the family-illness clause unless ordered to do so by the NRL if mediation is required. Ive also heard that he wont be coming back, Furner said. I dont know anymore other than to say he will either be with us in 2014 or he wont be playing NRL. Its frustrating because we have put a lot of work into Anthony and the junior development work that we do. But we are holding firm on the contract, which is what we always said, and that stance hasnt changed. A recent report suggested Stuart had successfully convinced Milford to stay after tabling a $100,000 upgrade. But Milfords manager Sam Ayoub says the Maroons Origin hopeful is still weighing up his future and has sought legal advice on the relevant clause. I am sick and tired of what everyone else is saying. These people who say Anthony is now staying at Canberra, they wouldnt have a clue on what is going on, Ayoub said. The bottom line is the kid is in the UK, we are working through it, we are looking at what the kid can and cant do. We are not going to be pressured into making a decision based on what other people are saying and the agendas they want to run. We are getting some advice on Anthonys situation. I am talking to Anthony and he will do what he needs to do to move forward.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 23:45:03 +0000
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