AS good as he is, Anthony Milford should expect The Halliwell Jones Stadium crowd not to be on his side when he returns to Wolves’ den with Brisbane Broncos.

Magic man Milford featured in a Samoa squad warmly hosted in this town during the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

And he was at full back the night his nation of descent won the hearts of Warrington supporters with a rousing fightback that gave the mighty Kiwis a huge fright.

Hairs rise on the back of my neck as I recall all four sides of The HJ ringing out with Samoa chants.

That tournament, aged 19, we saw glimpses of the Milford talent including a try in the warm-up game against England Knights, who featured hat-trick scorer Jack Hughes as a Wigan player and his then clubmate Dom Crosby at City of Salford Stadium.

Warrington Guardian:

Anthony Milford skirting England Knights pivot Sam Powell in a 2013 World Cup warm-up game at City of Salford Stadium. Picture by Mike Boden

Much has changed since, including Milford's move 12 months later from Canberra Raiders to six-time Premiership winners Brisbane Broncos that corresponded with Wayne Bennett’s heralded return to Suncorp Stadium.

Like Wolves found it almost impossible to find a replacement for Lee Briers in 2014, Brisbane were left with huge boots to fill when talismanic stand off Darren Lockyer retired in 2011.

Several potential suitors failed to light the fuse so Broncos turned to ‘Milf’ for the answers, forming a dynamic partnership in the halves with Ben Hunt.

The former Australian Schoolboys international, and ex-Queensland under 20s skipper, has certainly responded to the challenge in a shirt in which so much is expected by the hoards of Brisbane followers.

After all, they have had the delight to purr over such talents as Wally Lewis in the 1980s and in the following decade Kevin Walters, who, of course, tortured defences alongside a fellow future Wire player in the shape of Allan Langer.

Now, still only 22, Milford is arguably the most entertaining footballer in the NRL and he is only going to get better over time.

Some of the outrageous individual skill he possesses, including defence-splitting sidesteps off both feet, have always been evident during his development but he has proven he has what it takes to be a five-eighth too, with his reading of a situation and game management leading to Kangaroos train-on squad selection over the past few years.

He sees gaps where there aren’t any, he has the strength to wriggle out of tackles that looked certain to be made, he has the knack of being in the right place to support breaks, he can change gears effortlessly, he can throw a short or long pass clinically, he can kick tactically or land a 40-metre drop goal to win a game in extra time.

Milford is a joy to watch for the neutral, but not when he is the tormentor in the opposing ranks as he will be in the World Club Series on Saturday.

Wolves cannot afford to switch off him for a second or else they will pay a price.

Warrington Guardian:

Anthony Milford, representing Samoa in 2013