LEIGH Centurions coach Paul Terzis has conceded defeat in his audacious plan to bring Australian Grand Final winners Sydney Roosters to Hilton Park.
Terzis had invited the Roosters to play the Centurions in a warm-up game before the Aussie champions take on St Helens in the World Club Championship at Bolton's Reebok Stadium in February.
But Leigh's plan has been kicked into touch by RFL chief Richard Lewis who vetoed the Centurions' idea and a similar one put forward by Widnes Vikings.
Terzis' contacts in Sydney were confident of brokering a deal - until the RFL stepped in.
"We weren't all that far away from sealing the deal to bring the Roosters to Hilton Park for a midweek game. What a night that would have been," says Terzis.
Non-starter
"But just like Widnes' application, the RFL say the game is a non-starter. We are too close to Bolton and the RFL don't want anything to detract from the World Club Challenge. It now looks as though the Roosters will play a game in France enroute to England."
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