The Parramatta Eels have spoiled the hometown party by smashing the New Zealand Warriors 22-4 to claim the NRL Auckland Nines title.
The Warriors went into their first-ever Nines finals as heavy favourites in front of a parochial Eden Park crowd but the Eels caused a major boilover.
The Warriors' defeat was further soured as star halfback Shaun Johnson limped from the field in the second half and appeared troubled by a leg injury.
Young Parramatta fullback Bevan French put in a near-irresistible case for a NRL starting spot this year, scoring the opening try and ending the tournament as the top try-scorer with eight.
When the Warriors failed to clean up a Luke Kelly midfield bomb, French picked up the spoils and went under the posts for a valuable bonus-point try.
The Eels controlled all the early field position and when a Corey Norman cut-out pass sent Semi Radradra over for his sixth of the tournament, they were well in control at 11-0.
The Warriors needed a spark and it came just a minute later when superstar recruit Roger Tuivasa-Sheck sliced through to reduce the margin to seven at the break.
The Warriors suffered a big blow after the restart when Johnson limped off after copping a knock in a mad scramble to field the kick-off.
He returned briefly but ended the game limping gingerly on the sideline.
The Eels killed off the game when Tepai Moeroa broke open the Warriors defence and Vai Toutai scored soon after, before Cody Nelson crossed to put an exclamation point on the result.
Johnson said afterwards his leg injury was just a cork, and he would be fine.