Yes!

Just one word, but one word full of a multiplicity of emotional, personal, and blogging satisfaction that the finishing line has been found in this interviewing transaction, which we very occasionally[this may be the first time] refer to as the Neemia Tialata Experience.  While it may take the “frank” out of the obvious, it has been many moons… in the night sky, since we began this interviewing journey, and the truth of the matter is… this has been some time in the blogging Sun, as providence, practice, and much scurrilous bloviating, having played its part.

If you have read the previous interviewing editions, you may have perceived that things appear different on the iamjonnyking, and while there is no need to be racial, we have gone black.  If I may, iamjonnyking had not planned on bringing in a new theme and a new design, but such was required as this ever-expanding age wearied the previous theme.  Wanting to send Mr Neemia Tialata out with an aesthetically astute ”bang,” we-that-is-me, decided it was skillful living to wait until the new theme was up and ready for mass instruction, before we went viral and published the last post… The Fourth and Final Frontier!

As it has been some time since we began, let me push repeat.

This interviewing series with Neemia Tialata was under the three themes of Family, Faith, and Football.  While one can find and read all these on this very blog, I would encourage all those who are about to enter in on, The Fourth and Final Frontier, to read the first part in the context of Football… Sorry, Fugby was not considered… which you can do so, by visiting… HERE!

By reading that hyperlinked and out dude post, the reader will have his scene set, for what is right now about to follow.

Context wears a Crown, it is King!  Just so you know, this interview was conducted… probably at least a couple of months back, so if the context in some questions seems historical, well spotted!

Here end the words of iamjonnyking… well, not really, but it seemed appropriate, if not accurate!

Enjoy —>

——————————

Neemia Tialata: On the Record, Off the Hook!

JK: You talk about your close mates, you would have been stoked for Piri [Weepu] getting back in?

NT: I am happy for him.  JK: Did you think he’d get back in? NT: Yip, I have every faith that he’d get back in there.  I know he didn’t have the best Super 14, but I can say that the Coaches and the Selectors really know what Piri is like, and what he is about.  He is one of these type of players who will step up when it comes to the big games… Time has certainly proven this to be true!… JK: Frank Bunce-like. NT: Especially Test Match Footy.  JK: Yeah, yeah.  I remember him a few seasons ago, and one of his strengths was always in contact, running and being able to take on the Forwards, particularly when they are tiring, and being able to break through their tackles.  I guess that’s one of the areas with these new interpretations… you talk about running half-backs like Will Genia, I would think [not being in the inner sanctum], but the AB Selectors would be wanting him to do more of that.  NT: That’s exactly why he got the big tick!  JK: I was at the game a couple of years ago, I was at the Cake Tin, versus the Boks, and I remember him running and sniping… he also scored a try… and that was one of his real strengths, and it will be good to see him!

JK: You might be able to help us here… What made/ makes Carl Hayman so good on the Rugby field? Maybe as a Tight-Head… I don’t know if you can explain it, because obviously there’s a bit of the old Jedi, the dark arts, going on there… What made him so good?  Was it that he was immensely strong? What seemed to separate him from his peers?

NT: For me personally, I think he’s one of the best Tight-Head scrummagers that I’ve ever come across, or ever seen.

JK: What was the difference?

NT: Obviously he’s a strong man, built pretty solidly, quite tall as well, which helps, but most of all, I think he’s consistent.  JK: Yes.  NT: I’ve never seen him once get popped or pushed back… maybe in his earlier days, but he has learned alot.  Apart from that, it’s his all-round game, round the field and that, which is unbelievable.  He makes alot of tackles, hits alot of rucks, and carries the ball.

JK: So you’ve decided on Tight-Head, rather than Loose-Head, although as the AB Selectors have said, you can play both sides.  Briefly, describe what the main difference is with either side?  Maybe also describe how difficult it is to play both sides.

NT: Start with the Tight-Head, you’ve got the Hooker and the Loose-Head’s shoulders you have to worry about, and when you’re on the Loose-Head, you’ve only got the Tight-Head to worry about.  On the Loose-Head side, you’ve got a bit of give to work your way in, or do whatever you like, but with Tight-Head, it is a bit harder, because you’ve got the Hooker there as well, plus the Loose-Head Prop.

JK: So Tight-Head is more like being a rock in defense, in some respects, because you’re gonna get attacked, whereas in Loose-Head, you’re more expected to go after their scrum?

NT: As a Loose-Head, it is easier to attack, easier to get into the Tight-Head… and then, the other way around, as a Tight-Head, it is quite hard to just worry about the Loose-Head Prop, because you’ve got the Hooker coming as well, so, you’ve got to have a good balance on whether to hit the Hooker, or hit the Loose-Head, or hit straight.  It’s also hard from starting or playing on the Loose-Head side, and moving across to the Tight-Head side.

JK: I know you’re body is obviously having intense pressure put on it from different angles, is that the hardest thing… or, does it put stress, in a sense, on different parts of your body?

NT: Yeah, you’re neck!  JK: [chuckles]  NT: On the Loose-Head side, there are a lot of neck muscles involved.  On the Tight-Head side, it is more your right shoulder.  JK: Nice, that gives a bit of an insight.  NT: It’s quite hard to explain, but its better if I show you, or show people. JK: Yeah, yeah, if I was going to do a video with ya, I was going to do a bit of show and tell, and you could have shoved my neck through another area of my body.

JK: Have you ever been intimidated on the field?

NT: I always do!  JK: You’re always intimidated? NT: Not by the guy that I’m marking or another player, mainly from the crowd.  JK: Is that right?  NT: Yeah, I’m telling you, it’s quite scary, especially over in Africa.  That’s just at the start of the game.  Once you get your first hit in, and when you get your hands on the ball, all that goes away, and you don’t really hear the crowd, but that’s probably the biggest thing for me.

JK: Best Rugby Advice You Ever Received and Now Practice?

NT: I think, just from my mum.  Just be myself, enjoy what I do, and believe in God!

JK: Playing Overseas – Possibility in the future or are you pretty keen on doing the kiwi thing for your whole career?

NT: I definitely want to head overseas when my time’s done here.  JK: Will you hang around for 2015 World Cup?  NT: Not too sure yet, not looking too far ahead.  JK: Yeah, yeah, that is a long time.  You’re going to be 28 next year, and in four more years, you’re only 32 then.  NT: Yeah, I definitely want to go and travel.  JK: Props are playing up in the Northern Hemisphere until they’re 37. NT: Yip. JK: So it will still give you plenty of time!

JK: As an AB, how you can you best impact on those people who are looking to you as someone to emulate?

NT: Probably if I wasn’t an All Black, and I was looking at a player, say Tana Umaga, and I really wanted to be like him or idolised him, you know… whatever… I’d probably, for me, I’d probably look at how real he is.  In a way, you’ll find that in most of the All Blacks, and the boys who do make the All Blacks are real people. JK: That’s Good, That’s Awesome… We might also say, That’s McCawesome-ness.  NT: That is what makes a great team.  JK: That is what people need to see and hear as well, aye?  NT: Yeah, yeah, like sometimes, a lot of people have a wrong perception on a person.  If I was to get in trouble with the Cops and that.  People looking in will probably think, I’m a bad boy, and I drink and do this, I get in trouble with the Law all the time, so I’m not a good person.  I think people gotta realise that there’s more than just rugby… ah, it’s hard to explain… there’s not much more I can say… JK: I think what you’re trying to say is that there is more to the person than just what they see on TV.  NT: Yeah, I just want to be the guy that’s real, real, genuine, honest, and a hard worker.  JK: Twitter helps so much. Also, this is one of the things that this Backing Black… Yes Join, and Read the Blog… that I think is so significant, because a lot of times the sensational things happen when people are placed on a pedestal.  It’s like when something happens to a family member, when they do something wrong.  You say, I disagree with what you did, but you’re still my brother, or you’re still part of my family, and I still love you and care about you.  If we saw people in a higher status, such as All Blacks, like that, you know, if they’ve done something wrong, they have done something wrong… and will have to deal with the consequences, but they’re still part of our community, just like any other person… and it would help to remove some of the stuff that gets sensationalised, which may make good copy, but doesn’t often relate to the reality of life, and what is actually going on in your life, or in the lives of others.

JK: In the reign of King Henry, there seems to be a move away from building team culture that was established and encouraged in the context of alcohol intake, to building it around honesty and transparency in relationships.  Is this correct?  How has this developed in the team, and talk about the results?

NT: It’s correct alright!  I’m not going to lie, the boys do enjoy a drink or two.  JK: Yeah, sure, sure.  NT: But nowadays, the boys know that you can’t afford to get on the booze, because we all know that we got to back it up the next day.

JK: I guess what I’m getting at is that often team culture was built around… O we need to get on the piss, and we’ll get together, and rah, rah, rah, rah, and that’s how we form our relationship.  But I remember, I think when Aaron Mauger was talking how you would get together, sit around, and you would talk about it… and you would be open and would be honest, which sortof sounds very unlike what people think of the rugby culture.

NT: Yeah, it’s tough mate, we’ve had a few of those sessions.  You get in front of the group, and then they express how they feel, and how they see you.  Then they tell you things that they want to keep doing, things that they want you to stop doing.  It brings out more in a person, and that is what you want in a rugby player.

JK: Describe the details that surround what takes place after a match.  Do things take place the same after each International?

NT: After the after-match, we go back to the Hotel, then we have a meal together, sit down for a meal.  JK: So what time would that be?  Say a 7.30pm Test Match, what time would you have a meal together?  NT: Probably about 11.30pm to 12.00am.  JK: [chortling] Mate!  NT: And then, most of the boys will head back to their rooms, and sleep.  JK: Except for the young single guys.  NT: Then you’ve got the young ones who stay downstairs in the team room, and you’ve got the guitars out. JK: Nice!  NT: Most of the time the boys stay in.  They’re obviously too tired.  JK: Yip, that makes sense!

JK: How well do you sleep before and after a game?

NT: Oh, I’m shocking mate!  I think you might have seen some of my tweets at about 4 o’clock in the morning, after a game.  JK: So after a game, are you like replaying it over in your mind?  NT: Yeah, I just can’t get to sleep, can’t eat! JK: Mate, it has that big of an impact, awesome!

JK: I have read the you highly respect Tana.  What made Tana such a good leader?

NT: I can relate to him. I’ve grown up knowing him since I was a kid.  I know him personally.  I know his family, and I know where he’s come from, how hard he’s had to work to be the person he is now.  JK: What about out on the field?  Was it that he lead from the front? NT: Yip.  JK: Was he much of a talker?  NT: Yeah, yeah, he is.  JK: Okay.

JK: You’re now under Richie McCaw.  Is he a similar leader to Tana?  Or, how different is he?

NT: Pretty much the same!  Very Intelligent.  A great leader obviously, and someone that I would give my body, and put it on the line for him!  JK: AWESOME!  I like to hear that.  He’s tough… obviously?  NT: He’s a tough man, and he’s a great man as well! JK: If I can say it, he seems like a real kiwi bloke.  NT: Yip, he’s a good man.  JK: He plays for the Crusaders, which isn’t too bad!

JK: How significant is a good team culture?  Will this impact on the field?

NT: Definitely!  I think we are very lucky here in New Zealand in that we have  a lot of mixed race, and at the same time, people embracing each other, and different cultures, different backgrounds, and I think that’s what makes New Zealand, and the All Blacks, unique and special.  JK: Okay.  Nice.

JK; Name the strongest personal and/or coaching attribute in Messrs Henry, Smith, and Hansen.

NT: Ah, they’re very honest! JK: What about individually, do they have different strengths?  From my perception as an outsider, it seems that Smith is more of a touchy-feely, empathetic… NT: [Jumping in] More of a hands on.  JK: Whereas Hansen seems a bit more of a tougher type character.  NT: Yip.  JK: And, maybe Henry is a bit of both.  NT: Yip.  Exactly! JK: Sweet!

JK: So they say that Sport is 80% Mental and 20% Physical, at the Top.  Do you agree?

NT: Oh Yeah, Definitely!

JK: Does what happens on the field, really stay on the field?

NT: It does, it does.  JK: Because I’m thinking about when you and Richie had that coming together, and you gave him that love cuddle… NT: [reflective laugh] Yeah… JK: That love hold.  Using that as an example, did you guys talk about that after, or what happened?  NT: Pretty much just what you said, what happens on the field, stays on the field.  JK: So you just went off and laughed about it?  NT: Yeah, yeah, we saw each other after the game in the changing room, and I actually talked to him about the game and what… he managed to do to beat us.

JK: What is your pre-match routine?  Do you have any rituals?

NT: Shave my legs before a game [giggles] JK: [laughing] Not a pedicure or manicure?  NT: Nah, that’s the night before! JK: Ah, sorry, get your order right iamjonnyking!

JK: What are your thoughts about the new Interpretations that have been brought into the Super 14 [and now International Season]?  Are you happy about them?

NT: Oh mate, they’re forever changing the rules!  JK: Is it hard, is it annoying?  NT: [with conviction] It is annoying, it’s annoying!  JK: [giggling] You’re saying that with passion, I can feel that.  NT: It’s annoying trying… playing, and obviously, it must be annoying for you guys watching it.  They are constantly changing rules and what-not, and sometimes, most of the time, it’s frustrating.  That’s why there is probably so much inconsistency.

JK: Best Mates in the Game?

NT: Apart from Ma’a [Nonu] and Piri [Weepu], it would have to be guys like Jerome Kaino.  JK: Okay. NT: He’s a good mate of mine.  Kevin Mealamu.  JK: They’re both believers, aren’t they?  NT: Yeah. yeah. Then, Brad Thorn with the Crusaders. JK: Yeah, yeah, Big Bad Brad!  I think of the Godfather as not a bad name for him?  NT: hahaha, Nah, he likes B.B.T – and it stand for “Big Bad Thorn”.  JK: I tend to go with the “B’s”, aye.  But his voice, I don’t know if you’ve seen the Godfather movies, but even Richie talked about him in the Press Conference about him being a Father figure, and he’s a believer, so the God-thing fits there.  NT: That might roll with him pretty well, I might pull that one out!  JK: Yeah, you should… Because my nick-name for Richie is “McCawesome”… NT: Ohhhh, nice! JK:  Or you could call him “McCawesomeness”.  You could get McDonalds and they could have a burger, maybe 7 beef patties… NT: [Laughing]… JK: On a Sesame Seed Bun.  NT: You should bring that up and we see if we can make it happen [Planning is underway!] JK: I have, I have, I’ve just done a blog on BackingBlack, I’ve actually done two.

SOME QUICK HITS

JK: Toughest International Opponent?

NT: Have to be one of the French Loosies (Loose-Heads)… Sylvain Marconnet, maybe… Couldn’t remember names!

JK: Toughest Opponent in New Zealand Rugby?

NT: Tony Woodcock

JK: What do you Bench Press?

NT: I’ve done 200

JK: Your World 15.  If you had the chance to pick your World 15 to play, what would it be?

NT:

1 – Tony Woodcock

2 – Andrew Hore/ Kevin Mealamu

3 – ME

4 – Ali Williams

5 – Ross Filipo. JK: Okay, Ross Filipo, that’s a bit of a …

6 – Jerry [Collins]

7 – Richie [McCaw]

8 – Rodney So’oialo/ Chris Masoe

9 – Piri [Weepu]

10 – Mr Carter [DC]

11 – JK: Siti? NT: Ah, Jonah [Lomu], Gotta have the Big Man there!  JK: Oh man, he was, ah, what a legend!

12 – Ma’a [Nonu]/ Tana… Nah, I’d have Tana at Centre… / Conrad [Smith]

13 – Tana Umaga

14 – I gotta have CJ [Cory Jane] in there somewhere

15 – Mils [Muliaina] at Fullback.  JK: What about no Cullen?  NT: Oooo, Yeah / Cullen.  JK: He was a bit of a freak.

NT: I would have a massive bench, though

JK: League Player you would most like to see in Union… or even someone outside of the All Blacks context?

NT: Oh, David Tua!  JK: Haha! What Hooker? He’d be a mean Hooker!  NT: Hooker/ Six.  JK: He’d lay the hurt down. NT: He’d pack a good punch!

JK: Funniest Player – Hurricanes and ABs… and Why?

NT: Would be Ma’a!  JK: Why?  NT: Oh mate, he’s the funniest guy you’ll ever meet.  JK: Yip, one-liners or just personality… or jokes, or just everything?  NT: Everything, he’s got the whole package.  He’s got the jokes, he’s got the one-liners, and he’s got the funniest facials, and some of the silliest stuff.

JK: Hardest Player to tackle in Super 14, All Blacks, or world rugby?

NT: Probably Ma’a!  JK: Why?  NT: He’s just a Nugget

JK: Fastest All Black on the field?

NT: Siti [Sivivatu].  JK: Faster than Joe [Rokocoko]?  NT: I think so.  JK: So he’s got rugby speed, cause Joe, if they would run 100 metres on a track… NT: [Jumping in] He’d win!

JK: Biggest bench-press in the ABs?

NT: Oh, Mega… Aled DeMelmanche.  JK: He looks like he’d be the biggest bench-press too.  What does he do?  NT: Mate, he does like 210-215 for like 3 [Reps/ Times].  JK: Oooo!  NT: Yeah, it’s massive.  We call him Megatron.

JK: Your favourite rugby player to watch now?

NT: Oh, Quade, Quade Cooper!  JK: Ooohhhhh Quade!  NT: YES, my man Quade!  JK: He’s agreed to do an Interview… JUST A MATTER OF WHEN… QUADE?… BTW, feel free to tweet your encouragement to @QuadeCooper

JK: October/ November 2011, where will Neemia Tialata be?

NT: Hopefully with the World Cup team!

——————————

Indeed!

Some Concluding Thoughts

Much has happened in the rugby context of Neemia Tialata since we conducted this interview at the start of the International Season.  While missing out on the All Blacks Tri-Nations Squad will have, no doubt, gutted the big man, he has not allowed this to break his resolve, but has used this time to get involved with some other adventures both on and off the field. Obviously, Neemia is well known with his prolific exploits on Twitter, with this technology offering us all an inside look into a man on a personal mission.  While many are content to use the platform from a derived status as the means to contextualise their future, Tialata desires to use this as a springboard to offer more of himself, in a number of differing contexts, thereby using his status, not as an end in and of itself, but as the means to make a positive cultural impact and impression for the common good.

It has been my pleasure to be able to bring you this series, and I want to say a big, Thank You, to Neemia Tialata, who graciously gave of his time, which was underscored the night before All Black camp, where we spoke for over an hour about things.  Brother, keep the faith… and your tweet on!  We look forward to watching your journey, and vicariously joining in with the experience.  In your life, to date, you have proven that the obstacles that could easily have blocked your path, and stopped your dream, were in fact, the opportunities that forged you into the man you have become and are becoming.  To a young generation who may be caught in their cultural context, trying to peer through the bum-rap of their circumstances, Neemia Tialata has proven that it can be done.  While no path is the same, truly and honestly reader, there is no one quite like you on this pale blue dot of a planet.  You do have so much to offer.  The time is now to put your mark on Remarkable!  Don’t just dream big dreams, please, do us all a favour… yourself included… get up, grab hold of life, and do something about it!

It seems rather routine to point out that Neemia Tialata is a physically big man, a physically imposing man.  However, after spending time listening to his words, and seeing him live this out in the fields of the living,  it seems obvious that it his exterior that shackles the giant, the giant within that everyday refuses the chains of mediocrity, and longs to be free.  No, Neemia Tialata is not the finished product, and who of us reading these words would lay claim to such a destination or a title, however,  just as his size will dwarf most, it seems that his frame is a portent of things to come, things that are below the surface of the eye, things that can only become animated as the real qualities of a man are enabled by the true source of greatness, the content of one’s character.

Will Neemia Tialata ever wear the All Black jersey again?  While this is a compelling question, read back through his experience of life, and frame this quest in light of that!  If winning in life is any indication, no mountain has been high enough to-date, and Neemia is not about to give up now!

I, iamjonnying is looking forward to doing this again with another victim, I mean, candidate!  The next interviewing task may not necessarily be as wide, but one would like to think we would be able to go just as deep!

However, we do have one final task to complete, which is the following…

The Competition… Dom, Dom, Dom

Yes, there is STILL the competition to win a signed-by-the-squad 2010 Hurricanes Jersey, or to put it the following way.

Win a new 2010 Hurricanes jersey, signed by the squad

Here’s how to enter…

1] If you haven’t already, you need to follow NeemiaTialata on Twitter… and… iamjonnyking on Twitter!

2] Once you have followed us both, THEN, First, you need to re-tweet this post and any other posts you want to enter through, onto your Twitter page, which you can complete through the icon at the bottom of this post and every other post.  If you have not read the previous posts, you can actually start there, which will give you MORE opportunities to win!

3] MOST IMPORTANTLY, you need to leave a comment on this post, and every other post that you want to be considered as a valid entry!  It does not have to be significant or special.  Just one letter-word is A-OK!

4] THE DRAW for the Jersey will be undertaken in approximately ONE WEEK… give or take a week or two

But, we will get back to you, so Stay Tuned!

Please re-tweet this post with reckless abandonment, throughout the week, as we STILL want Neemia’s story to go Massive!

Don’t be Shy, Feel Free to Communicate with Impunity, and Share Your Thoughts, Responses, or Opinions… I think that is all!

Its Been Special!

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking