Police detain a woman after the Warriors vs Parramata Eels match. Photo / Michael Craig
While a young woman may have been handcuffed by police outside Eden Park last night, the massive crowd of more than 38,000 watching the Warriors play at their new home ground was extremely well behaved.
Security was tight at the NRL season opener loss against the Parramata Eels after previous
bad behaviour at the ground.
About 20 private security guards kept a close watch on fans passing through the tight security at the Sandringham Rd side of Eden Park Stadium.
Kiwi rock band Shihad set the night alight but that was as good as it got for the home fans, who saw the Warriors go down 24-18.
In the moments before kick-off at 7.30pm, dozens carrying bottles of alcohol some six packs were told to dispose of them in designated bins.
Thousands of fans took to buses and trains to avoid the crush of cars before and after the game.
A liquor ban was in place 400m from the stadium. However, many fans seemed unaware as dozens got off trains and buses at the station with a beer or RTD in hand.
Almost all were compliant when asked to dump their liquor, and most took a few minutes to skull the dregs before doing so.
One woman finished the last quarter of a bottle of wine she was drinking straight from the bottle.
"I'm glad there's a security guard every four metres I walk, just in case I get lost," one man said after having to dispose of his bottle of beer.
A man had to be helped from the ground with a heart complaint.
There was no repeat of the ugly scenes which marred last July's rugby league test match against Australia, when several fights broke out and bottles were thrown on to the pitch.
After yesterday's game the crowd was directed through a maze of barriers towards the train platform without incident.
Two police vans carrying around four officers each and about eight officers on foot, patrolled the area. Officers were spotted taking open beer bottles from fans.
A total of four arrests were reported.
