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The tug of war between NRL clubs for Anthony Milford may be over.
But another battle for Milford’s services has begun at new home Brisbane as club legends queue up to hone their prized recruit into the next great Broncos pivot.
The quietly spoken Milford looked a little overawed when he was officially unveiled in Broncos colours on Wednesday, taking centrestage at their 2015 jersey launch.
And it seems he will be starstruck in the coming weeks as childhood heroes Darren Lockyer, Kevin Walters and Allan Langer start moulding his prodigious talent at Red Hill.
Milford looked forward to Broncos assistants and former premiership-winning halves Walters and Langer taking him under their wing.
“I think I will be a lot better with the help I will get around here,” he said.
Then there’s the offer from Brisbane board member Lockyer, the last great Broncos No.6, to mentor the ex-Raider.
“It would be good to learn off one of the greats,” Milford said.
Throw in seven-time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett and Milford’s new halves partner, Test playmaker Ben Hunt, and the shy ex-Raider’s head should be spinning at Broncos training.
Not that he is complaining.
“I hope to gain a lot of experience off him (Bennett),” Milford said.
“He’s been around the game for a long time, and one of the most successful coaches who is still doing it.
“(And) Benny Hunt is on fire at the moment so I will learn a few things off him.”
Then again, Milford knows all about being in demand.
The 20-year-old’s arrival at the Broncos capped a difficult 12 months.
While at Canberra last year Milford signed a two-season Brisbane deal from 2015 but was tempted to stay in the nation’s capital after hitting it off with coach Ricky Stuart.
A new Raiders deal worth more than $1 million a year may have also made him reconsider.
But after some soul searching Milford honoured the Broncos deal to be closer to his Brisbane-based dad Halo, who has a heart condition.
“I tried to think of what was best for myself and my family and the move up to Brisbane was the one,” Milford said.
“All the support and family around me here is much better, it will keep me happy.”
Asked on what terms he left Canberra, Milford said: “He (Stuart) wished me the best.
“I still consider him a mate of mine. We got real close.”
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