THE Canberra Raiders are digging their heels in over star rookie Anthony Milford but the fight is far from over with the Broncos still favoured to sign him, although they may have to wait until 2015.

The Raiders delivered a public relations campaign for Milford yesterday with the 19-year-old telling media he would stay in Canberra "as far as I know".

However, Raiders chief executive Don Furner conceded his club would be competing against very large offers for Milford's services from 2015 and beyond.

The complicated anti-tampering rules for NRL players means Milford and his management can start negotiating with rival clubs in November, only 12 months before his Raiders contract ends.

It is understood the Broncos would only make contact with him at that time and Milford's homesickness could yet persuade him to demand a release from the remaining year of his contract during the summer.

The Raiders held crisis talks with Logan product Milford this week after it was revealed Brisbane could snare the homesick teenager for 2014.

Milford's father is ill and he is conflicted between returning home to be with him and honouring the Raiders, who put him on scholarship at age 12.

"I'm contracted until next year ... I don't know what's further on," he said.

"As far as I know that's the way it is going. I was a bit surprised the way it came out.

"My first priority is to play well for the Raiders and I want to let everything else take care of itself."

The fleet-footed fullback said he had settled in Canberra thanks to the help of Josh Papalii's family, with whom he now lived.

"The past year I have been here I have found a strong bond with Papa's family and I have built that up to make it my own," he said.

"You are always going to miss your family. There's always times where I'm trying to call back home and see how they are.

"I'm on the phone to them every day which helps."

The Raiders are confident of keeping Milford next season but Furner conceded 2015 was an entirely different battle.

"He's going to receive a lot of attention when he's off contract and if a club throws a bucket-load of cash at him then that's something we will have to contend with," Furner said.

"Anthony is a player we see as a key part of our team. We want him to stay and will be doing all we can to keep him here.

"We will not release Anthony Milford for next year but he's off contract for 2015.

"Naturally for a player of his talent he will be getting attention for 2015."

The Raiders will have significant salary cap space to extend Milford after losing Josh Dugan, Joel Thompson and Sam Williams from their 2014 roster.

Furner said he was confident the ex-Inala and Ipswich student wanted to wear green in 2014.

He acknowledged he had a get out clause to return to a Queensland club but said it could only be activated through mutual agreement.