Milford asks for Raiders release

Anthony Milford of the Raiders catches the ball. Source: Stefan Postles / Getty Images

EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Milford is on a collision course with the Raiders after formally asking for a release from the club Sunday, with the Queensland sensation's manager saying Canberra should stop whingeing and let him go.

On a day when Canberra were flogged 68-4 by Melbourne, the Raiders confronted their worst nightmare with Milford - the NRL's next rising star - officially wanting out.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Milford's manager Sam Ayoub has written to Raiders boss Don Furner wishing to activate a get-out clause at season's end relating to family illness.

The move is definitive evidence Milford wants to return to his sick father in Brisbane. It appears he will be in Broncos colours in 2014, despite Canberra's desperate fight to keep him.

Milford, who scored Canberra's only try in Sunday's drubbing, told The Courier-Mail he would put "family first" when deciding his NRL future.

The Raiders have taken legal advice and indicated they will play hardball to ensure Milford honours the final year of his Canberra deal next season.

But Ayoub hit back Sunday night, confirming Milford wants out of Canberra after a week of speculation about his future.

The leading player agent said he would take the issue "further" - possibly to the NRL or Rugby League Players Association - if the Raiders refused to honour the get-out clause in his Canberra contract.

"I have written to Canberra asking them to favourably consider a release, in accordance with the clause in the contract that they agreed to at the time," Ayoub said.

"When they agreed to the clause, they acknowledged it would be a possibility Anthony would one day have to return home. Now that time has come.

"The Raiders can't whinge about this. We had the clause put in there, it was there to serve a purpose, Canberra agreed to it. Unfortunately for them the timing of that purpose has arrived."

Ayoub made it clear Milford's request for a release was motivated by family, with doctors last month preventing father Halo, 49, from moving to Canberra after a heart attack last year.

He said there had been no dialogue with any NRL rival, although the Broncos are favoured to sign Milford, who plans to return to family at season's end.

"This has nothing to do with more money, or the Broncos, the Cowboys or the Titans," Ayoub said.

"Will the Raiders take responsibility if something happens to his father while Anthony is away?

"There is no good Canberra trying to blame everybody else for the fact his old man is crook.

"They knew he was ill, that's why we asked for the illness clause, and all of a sudden because the kid is going great they don't want to show the same consideration they said they would.

"It can be activated at any time during the course of the contract, and that time has arrived.

"The Raiders have done everything possible to help Milford settle. The boom utility has lived with the family of Canberra teammate Josh Papalii, who also hails from Brisbane and understands the close-knit culture of Polynesian clans.

If the issue was purely about football, chances are Milford would happily stay in Canberra. But the Queensland under-20s skipper admits he was profoundly affected by Halo's heart attack last year.

"I want what is best for my family at the moment," Milford told The Courier-Mail.

"I guess I have to (look at returning home) at this time. I am blessed with what the Raiders have done for me. But my family is real special to me, football comes and goes, but your family is always in your life.

"So I will look after them first and do what is best for them."

Asked if he would be at the Raiders next year, Milford said: "I am contracted for next year, but I'm not sure what the Raiders will do. I will just focus on my football for now and see what happens.

"My dad was in that situation last year. I am a family person and I look after my parents first.

"Family is the No.1 thing for us Polynesian people. Especially moving away from home, I am not used to it because we are used to staying together, being close and looking after each other.

"Dad is better than he was last year but he is still ill. He has check-ups every week and that is ongoing. The doctors said the family won't be able to move down because of Dad, he can't travel down."

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