Decision makers will also note the tournament continues to populate Eden Park across two days.
The crowd wasn't at the levels of 2014 but the numbers would compare favourably with what the Blues drew across all of last season.
But for the NRL, Auckland also makes perfect sense. It's hard to imagine it working as well in Sydney or Brisbane. Sydney is already saturated with league, and folk in the Queensland capital are interested only in the Broncos.
Tweaks are needed. Some teams continue to abuse the spirit of the format, with the Roosters bringing a particularly weak squad this year. And the 18-man roster could be extended by four players to allow for injuries and fatigue.
But as a spectacle, it's hard to beat, and those who were there yesterday when Shaun Johnson produced his miracle play to alter the Warriors' destiny won't forget it in a hurry. In terms of an event life cycle, it's still at the beginning of the curve.