The day Milford announced himself as a natural fullback

Anthony Milford is at his dazzling best at fullback for Brisbane six years after he announced himself as a rare talent to Raiders teammates who did not know his name.

Former Raiders prop Dave Shillington recalls a defining moment in 2013 when Milford was an 18-year-old star on the rise and what was known as a Canberra "cadet", working around the club at various jobs and playing in the under 20s.

"I just remember how evasive he was with the football in broken play, and so light on his feet and so quick off the mark, so he quickly made a name for himself as a fullback at the Raiders," Shillington told NRL.com.

"We were doing an opposed session – first grade versus under 20s – and those games are usually low key and definitely not aggressive.

"There was this young kid called Anthony Milford, we didn't know his name then to be honest, who just stepped and carved and weaved his way through us and we could not lay a hand on him.

"Some of the senior boys like Dane Tilse were saying  'boys, this cheeky under 20s guy is taking this way too seriously and making us look bad. Next time grab him by the jersey, slam him on the ground and cut him down to size'.

"A couple tried to rough him up and show him which team he was in and which team he was not in, but no-one could do what Tilsey said because we couldn’t lay a hand on him."

The name "Anthony Milford" would soon be known by all his Raiders seniors.

"We learned his name and ability at the same time and a couple of weeks later he was playing alongside us in first grade. That same year he became our starting fullback and really shone," Shillington said.

"When I see Milf at fullback I think of people like Preston Campbell, who was a Dally M player of the year, Matty Bowen and Benny Barba when he was at his best.

"Those sort of people in broken play from the back become your X factors to put points on opposition teams when the big fellas get tired in defence or against the tired guys that have been on for 30 of the first 40 minutes or 70 of the 80.

"At fullback, Milf can be up the middle on an inside shoulder or taking a late offload and good luck trying to get a hand on him or pull him down."

There had been calls for years at the Broncos for Milford to be switched to fullback.

Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold has now done that and for the last three weeks it has worked a treat with the former Raider dominant at the back and Darius Boyd warming to his task at five-eighth.

"I'd like to think that I know a lot more about the game from when I started at Canberra in terms of knowing my role and what to do in situations in the game. I am still learning," Milford said of his return to fullback.

"I enjoy it [more than five-eighth] because you are not thinking about the next play and what is going on around you as much. I am pretty much playing free flow football and whatever comes into my head I just do it.

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"At fullback, you get a good look at who is tired and who is not. As long as you are doing your homework during the week you can pick your spots and time when to chime in.

"I am playing off the back off an awesome forward pack that gives me go-forward and has a sneaky offload every now and then. I am learning every game and Seibs has given me the confidence to back myself."

Milford has one of the game's best modern fullbacks to learn from and several recent stars in the position who he also has analysed.

"Karmichael Hunt comes to mind and you can't go past Billy [Slater]," Milford said.

"The next evolution in my game is getting better at ball-playing and running the ball. Billy did both and has always been a step ahead of everyone.

"I am working hard there with the coaching staff and I am learning off one of the best fullbacks in the game in Darius.

"I've got a new job and just get on with it. I do feel it a bit out there. The legs are working a lot more and the lungs … but I enjoy it."

Seibold likes what he has seen because Milford at fullback has made the Broncos more of a threat with the ball.

"He’s starting to get accustomed to the role. There is more high-speed running and more changes of intensity but he is a threat there," Seibold said.

"On kick-returns or around the middle of the park when markers are fatigued they have got to watch out for Milly.

"It is something Tedesco, Trbojevic, Papenhuyzen and other fullbacks are in the competition ... a real threat with the footy. Milly is similar to that. He takes the attention of the markers and edge defenders. I like him playing there."

After running rings around the Titans last week, Milford is well aware he and the eighth-placed Broncos have a much tougher assignment against the Storm on Friday night.

"It is very big in the context of the eight. It will be a big challenge for us physically and mentally," Milford said.

"Melbourne don’t often have back-to-back losses and they love coming up to play at Suncorp, so we need to be ready for whatever they throw at us."