Colourful 43,000-strong crowd on Cloud Nine

An Auckland Nines fan cheers on the Warriors as they head out on to the field. Photo / Brett Phibbs

NRL Nines should stay in New Zealand, say enthusiastic spectators from all over Australasia.

A Queen impersonator, would-be superheroes and Teletubbies were among 43,000 people on "Cloud Nine" at the NRL Nines yesterday.

The event - in its second year - filled Auckland's Eden Park to near-capacity, reinforcing that it has now eclipsed the Wellington Sevens as New Zealand's most colourful sporting event.

The crowd included an estimated 8000 Australians who had crossed the Tasman to soak up the action, and the good-natured antics of the colourful crowd. About 13,000 New Zealanders had travelled to Auckland for the event.

Sporting A-listers in the crowd included league greats Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Willie Mason, Logan Swann, Steve Menzies and Gorden Tallis, as well as All Blacks Charles Piutau and Steven Luatua.

Prime Minister John Key, Shortland Street star Pua Magasiva and singer Stan Walker were also there.

But their attire couldn't match those of the tens of thousands of fans who decked themselves out in a sea of colour.

Few had spent as much as Paul Adkin, who travelled from England complete with a custom-made "Mr T" outfit for the two-day sporting spectacular.

"It was absolutely worth the trip. And I pity any fool who didn't make it," he said.

Aucklanders Andrew Ahkew and Leona Williams went all-out on their voodoo priest and princess costumes. "It's the only time I can practise my black magic out in the open," Ahkew said. "I've been to the Sevens before, but you actually watch the games here.

"In the Sevens, half the people don't know what rugby is. It's just a chance to drink. At this event you're watching the games. It's a different crowd, a different atmosphere - a family atmosphere."

All spectators spoken to were opposed to the event moving to Australia, as could be the case after Auckland's five-year hosting contract with the NRL expires in 2018.

The Herald on Sunday revealed last weekend that Brisbane and Melbourne were preparing feasibility studies for potential future tilts at hosting rights. "I reckon everybody will go on strike if it ever goes across the ditch," said one of the Super Mario Bros, Lee Paahi. "It's staying in New Zealand, baby."

Duco Events and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development hope this weekend's tournament goes without a hitch so they have the best chance of confirming the City of Sails as the long-term host of the Nines.

Alcohol management was a key part of their strategy. Free water bottles were handed out around the ground and the number of alcoholic beverages allowed to be bought was lowered from four to two at 3pm.

Inspector Peter Gibson said three people were arrested at Eden Park and a further 28 were evicted from the stadium.

Auckland's train system worked well. Fans received a free ride on presenting their Nines ticket.

The competition enters the knockout phase today.