Anthony Milford is facing an uncertain NRL future. Source: Kym Smith / DailyTelegraph
CANBERRA are set to table a contract upgrade in excess of $100,000 in a last-ditch bid to stop Anthony Milford joining the Broncos.
The development comes as Brian Edwards, the Canberra scout poached by the Broncos last week, broke his silence to declare he will not brainwash Milford into defecting to Brisbane.
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The Sunday Mail understands the Broncos remain privately confident of securing Milford, who is said to be considering staying in Canberra after requesting a release six weeks ago.
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The Broncos plan to begin talks with Milford from November 1, but the tug of war is intensifying with new Canberra coach Ricky Stuart spotted in Brisbane on Friday.
Stuart is understandably eager to retain Milford, who is currently visiting his sick father Halo and mother Marietta in the Brisbane suburb of Inala.
The 19-year-old is already contracted to the Raiders next season, but the axing of Blake Ferguson gives Canberra the salary-cap latitude to reward Milford with a six-figure pay rise.
Edwards, the man who spotted Milford in Brisbane as a 12-year-old, shapes as the Broncos' wildcard.
The Brisbane-based scout steered Milford to Canberra via his links with long-time feeder club Souths Logan. And while Edwards is not pressuring Milford, the young gun regards the veteran official among his footballing mentors.
"I don't want to say too much about Anthony but I won't be pressuring him. It's his call," Edwards said.
"Ultimately, it's up to Anthony ... my only advice is keep your head on.
"There is no limit to what the kid can achieve. The football world is an oyster to him at the moment.
"From the moment I saw him playing at Acacia Ridge, there was an X-factor to him. He did things other kids couldn't do.
"I would see him on the left side of the field and he would quickly get to the right because he was ahead of the play. You can't coach the things that Anthony can do.
"For some reason he was missed by the Broncos at the time, I don't know how, but as I've learned in recruitment you can't get everybody."
Canberra are taking heart from suggestions Milford will now stay. But there is a counter-view that Milford's "sitting on the fence" stance is a smokescreen designed to downplay growing speculation his Broncos deal is a fait accompli.
Departing Raiders chairman John McIntyre confirmed Canberra are ready to up the ante by offering the Queensland under-20s playmaker an upgrade for 2014.
"As far as I'm concerned Anthony won't be in a Broncos jumper next year, I'm hopeful Ricky will keep him here," McIntyre said.
"An advantage we have over every else is that we can upgrade Anthony next year because he's already contracted. That is very high on our priority list.
"No-one else can offer Anthony an upgrade. The health issue with his father ... well that's something for his manager to work out with the club.
"We haven't lost a hell of a lot of players we've wanted to keep."
McIntyre said the Raiders had come to terms with Edwards' departure to head-up the Broncos' Logan-based academy after initially considering legal action.
"We are sorry to see 'Pinky' (Edwards) go," he said.
"The running of that Logan academy was something that appealed to him ... we would never ever stand in the way of anyone."
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