Milford keen to put Samoa before surgery

Anthony Milford wants to push back off-season knee surgery to represent Samoa as the Broncos star sizes up a potential long-term fullback switch that started with 24 hours' notice.

Milford was in Parramatta to help launch the Downer Rugby League World 9s Sydney 2019 on Monday and is determined to turn out for Samoa in the end-of-season tournament and their follow-up Test against Fiji in November 2's Eden Park triple-header.

When Brisbane's marquee playmaker went down against Newcastle last month there were fears for his season with predictions he could be out for up to 12 weeks with a knee injury.

Milford was later diagnosed with MCL damage that will require clean-out surgery at some point.

But the 25-year-old plans to put Samoa ahead of going under the knife, a far cry from the drama of 2016 when then Broncos coach Wayne Bennett blocked Milford from representing the island nation in a mid-season Test.

"I have to talk to Seibs [coach Anthony Seibold] about what he wants me to do but I've already made it clear to him I really want to play in the Nines and I really want to play the Test at the end of the year with Samoa," Milford told NRL.com.

"I will have to get surgery on my knee at some point. But talking to the physios we're trying to get away with a few more games so I'll sit down at the end of the year and make that decision.

"I'm always going to make myself available if I can for Samoa."

Prior to going down injured in Newcastle, Milford had been making a fair fist of his first NRL game at fullback since arriving at Brisbane from Canberra in 2014.

Milford has impressed at the back and Darius Boyd has done likewise at five-eighth in the past three weeks, with both Seibold and Broncos board member Darren Lockyer predicting Boyd will finish his career defending in the frontline.

Both Boyd and Milford are contracted for next year with each having a player option in their favour in 2021, a contract facet Milford says he "hasn't even thought of" in light of his shift to fullback.

For Milford it was a move that came somewhat out of the blue, but one he is comfortable playing out for the rest of 2019 and beyond.

"I received a phone call from Seibs the night before [the Knights game] and he just said, 'I think it's best if you play fullback and it's best for the team'," Milford said.

"I just said yes straight away. I'm a team player first and whatever the team needs me to do I'll do it.

"It's a challenge that I've accepted and I'm starting to relish it. I'm enjoying my time there and I'm always asking Darius for tips there and get Seibs to give me feedback.

"It definitely frees me up and clears my head going into a game. All I'm thinking about going into a game is just doing my job, I don't have to worry about anyone else.

"Seibs has made it a lot simpler for me these past couple of weeks and I'm enjoying it."