'Warning shot' felled Tialata, not 'king-hit'

Suspended Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby prop Clint Newland is fed up his knockout punch on All Black Neemia Tialata is continually labelled a "king-hit".
"No way it was a king-hit. It was just a bit of a warning shot and I was pretty surprised it knocked him out, to tell the truth," Newland said in his first media interview since he was handed his 10-week suspension following the punch in the Kelt Capital Magpies' 8-6 win against Wellington in Napier on August 4.
Newland said he, his family and supporters were sick of Tialata being portrayed as the victim. This week Tialata told NZPA the punch almost ended his World Cup dream.
"It's about time my story was told. It's been painful everyone else having a say on the incident except me, up until now," Newland said.
"Tialata was being a pain and bulldozing us in the lineout. I told him twice to cut it out but he continued on and after the second time he pulled my arm around and I looked at him grinning at me.
"That was when I gave him the warning shot," said the 1999 world championship-winning New Zealand under-19 team representative who has played for the Magpies for the past eight years.
Newland, 27, believes his 10-week suspension was harsh. "When you look at Waikato's Toby Lynn who got six weeks for biting it is. Biting is worse than punching," said Newland. He has taken a month off training with the Magpies and is working as a bushman with his brother Brad for Kevin and Tony Brightwell.
"After about five minutes on the job I've already got a sweat up so it's helping to keep me in shape," he said. Next month he will resume training with the Magpies as his quest for a Hurricanes Super 14 berth continues.
"I was pretty happy with my form before the suspension and although I imagine they wouldn't be too keen on me down in Wellington at the moment a Hurricanes jersey will always be my goal," Newland said.
He had been to all of the Magpies' home matches during his suspension, apart from last week's loss to Auckland.
"It's pretty hard just going along and watching," he said.
Newland played in the Magpies' last Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury in 2003 which was lost 76-14. He had some simple advice for his teammates before they flew south this afternoon.
"Give it your best. You've got the goods to do it ... just get in their face."
* More Magpies - Page 12