The Raiders have a strong track record of nurturing juniors into NRL stars, but the loss of Anthony Milford to Brisbane effectively forced a rethink of what amount they will invest into future development.

Milford has flourished alongside Ben Hunt at five-eighth in his first season with the Broncos, who will play off for a grand final berth against Sydney Roosters at Brisbane on Friday night.

Outgoing Raiders development officer David Hamilton, who helped discover Milford, said it was a big loss when the 21-year-old left the club after last season.

But Hamilton, who will join Gold Coast next season, said more clubs would be willing to devote more time to development if the NRL introduced a transfer fee or compensation scheme that protects incumbents.

"The game needs to be smarter, you have to develop players but if the game isn't going to reward you, the well is going to dry up," he said.

"It's easy to find the special players but those NRL players who are superstars still need to be developed, they just don't happen.

"Unless they give us some incentives, the clubs are investing a lot of money when you lose them, that's when it hurts you.

"The game needs to do it [oversee development], or they need to reward the clubs for doing it.

"At least you'd get some sort of reimbursement which you could reinvest back into the program."

The Milford case is similar to that at AFL club Adelaide Crows, whose highest profile player, Patrick Dangerfield, has officially requested a trade back to Victoria.

However, unlike the NRL, the AFL has policies in place, including free agency and the trade period, where clubs who lose players can seek reimbursement.

The Raiders have rebounded superbly after losing Milford, with Gold Coast recruit Aidan Sezer and former Wests Tiger Blake Austin locked in as their halves combination for the next three years.

It's the start of Canberra's promise to emulate other clubs by signing established players, but Hamilton said they will never withdraw completely from junior development.

"There's a balance to it, we still need to keep doing what we're doing," Hamilton said.

"We also need to buy ready-made players and what Don [Furner, Raiders chief executive] is saying is right.

"But that's short-term success, and for long-term consistency you still need to be able to develop the Jack Wightons, the Shannon Boyds and the Paul Vaughans."

Milford and Blake Austin are near the top of the tree in most critics' appraisal of the buys of the year.

Austin's huge improvement after being guaranteed the No.6 jersey by coach Ricky Stuart has eased the pain for the Raiders.

"It's always hard to lose a player of that calibre [Milford], that's for sure," Hamilton said.

"At the time it was disappointing, it is a business and sometimes you can't control those things, that's the toughest part.

"Losing Milford was a big loss but you're right, what we've got here now will only get better in the next couple of years.

"Milford was always going to take time to settle into a position, but he's definitely done a good job there.

"I thought he might end up a bit like Ben Barba, not too sure whether he plays six or one."

Fellow former Raider, centre Blake Ferguson, will also shoot for a grand final berth with the Roosters.

He was sacked by the Raiders for poor off-field behaviour, including going AWOL from training and his infamous rooftop drinking session with Josh Dugan.

But retired prop Brett White, a teammate of both Milford and Ferguson at the Raiders, said there's no hard feeling and is happy they've found their feet.

"As a teammate of those guys I'm really happy for them," White said.

"You always want to see the best for your mates and one of those guys are going to get that [grand final] opportunity.

"Both of them can really open that game up and be matchwinners for their team.

"It [Raiders] was a massive learning curve for Fergo, and he's definitely learned his lessons.

"Lucky for him he's been able to turn it around and what the Raiders did definitely helped him.

"I think the Raiders have to take a lot of credit for that and it's unfortunate he's not here with us, but good luck to him."