Canberra star Anthony Milford denies he sought a release to join the Brisbane Broncos this year and wants to finish his career with the Raiders ''on a big note''.
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In his first press conference since confirming he would honour the final year of his contract with the Raiders before joining the Broncos from 2015, Milford said he hadn't asked to be granted an early exit so he could be closer to his Brisbane-based family.
The Raiders' reigning player of the year also said he was unaware of Penrith Panthers signing Jamal Idris being released from the Gold Coast Titans on compassionate grounds earlier this week.
''No, (I am) just focusing on the Raiders and the training for the games coming up,'' Milford said.
''I don't even know what happened to Jamal, just been focusing on training and what I can do to improve my game.
''I'm concentrating on this year and trying to go out on a big note.''
Milford returned to pre-season training with the Raiders on Monday after being granted an extended break after last year's World Cup.
The 19-year-old's future was the subject of constant speculation for the second half of last season as the Raiders did everything they could to keep the prodigious talent in the national capital.
New coach Ricky Stuart even went to the lengths of flying to Brisbane soon after he was appointed to meet with Milford and his family to attempt to change his mind.
It was too late as Milford put pen to paper on a two-year contract with the Broncos from 2015.
Milford had a sensational rookie season for the Raiders last year and continued that form with Samoa at the World Cup, winning two man of the match awards.
Just what role he fills for the Raiders in his final season in Canberra remains the big unknown.
He excelled at both fullback and in the halves and can see himself filling either position, with the Raiders having former representative Terry Campese and Country Origin utility Josh McCrone in the No 6 and No 7 jerseys.
''Long term I'd like to end up in the halves, but last year I really enjoyed my time at the back and especially for Samoa,'' Milford said.
''You can see where the spaces are and who's tired and who's not and you don't have to do as much of the thinking.
''We've got (Campese and (McCrone in the halves), they've got a good combo there so I wouldn't want to break that up.''
While disappointed to lose a player of Milford's calibre next year, Campese knows it's part of the modern game.
''He's a special talent, you saw that in the World Cup with a few man of the match displays and he can do some good things for the club this year,'' Campese said.
''I've been at the club since 2003 and this happens all the time, it's football, it's a professional sport.
''His decision was family based and you can't hold that against people.''
