Brown welcomes home rugby league heroes

Len Brown congratulates Elijah Taylor of the triumphant Junior Warriors. Photo / Richard Robinson

Len Brown looked like a proud parent when the victorious Junior Warriors arrived home carrying a large trophy at Auckland Airport yesterday afternoon.

Standing at the back of the cheering crowd, dressed in a dark suit and white shirt but no tie, the Super City mayoral candidate clapped madly - his mouth wide open in what could only be described as a look of pure excitement.

To critics, it could be seen as a cheap vote-gathering stunt, but to many of the families there his actions were perceived as those of a supportive mayor who was genuinely excited about welcoming home a team that had done well.

"It's good to see our mayor coming to support the boys," said Poni Ioane, who was at the airport with his family waiting for his 20-year-old son Mark, a prop in the junior team that won the Toyota Cup in Sydney on Sunday.

Mr Brown had been in the waiting crowd when Mr Ioane approached him saying: "Len, my name is Poni Ioane, good luck on your election." Reaching out to shake Mr Brown's hand, he added: "It's good to see you come out. My son plays for the under 20s."

Looking relaxed and happy, Mr Brown returned the handshake and spent the next few minutes chatting with Mr Ioane about his family, before a lady carrying a Warriors banner interrupted: "I vote for you too. I don't like John Banks."

He replied with a laugh: "That's good, that's what we like to hear."

Mr Brown had at this stage been at the airport for nearly three-quarters of an hour waiting for the players to arrive - his campaigning surprisingly absent.

"I just know when to chill," he told the Herald. "This is the [Junior] Warriors' time, These kids have done very well ... There's a time and a place for everything. I'm happy to stand in the background."