Newland sports a glistening scar on his right shoulder following the reconstructive surgery that ruled him out of the Air New Zealand Cup. But the strapping prop has no fears the injury will slow him down in his second year as a Highlanders draft player.
"I've done a few scrums and it just feels better than it's ever been. It feels heaps stronger," Newland said yesterday.
He was playing for the New Zealand Maori in June when the shoulder popped out of its socket. The next day, it happened again, and surgery was recommended.
Newland said he felt the occasional niggle near the end of his debut Super 14 season but did not think it was going to be serious.
The surgery went well but he had to learn the art of patience as he watched his Hawkes Bay team-mates play in the domestic competition without him.
"It was pretty disheartening at first. I'd had heaps of time on the field for the Highlanders and then I found myself waiting around for months. I was a shocking patient. I hated sitting watching."
Newland conceded he occasionally worried he would not regain his Super 14 contract.
But it always seemed likely the Highlanders, believing they had found something of a hidden gem to replace Carl Hayman at tighthead, wanted him back. So it proved when Highlanders management kept in touch.
"That really helps. I suppose it's good for your psyche to know people are looking out for you. I love it down here and I'm pretty stoked with how things have panned out. I'm real happy to be a Highlander again."
Hooker Jason Macdonald is gone - his alarming dip in form for Otago was rewarded with a draft spot in the Crusaders - but the Highlanders will still field one of the biggest and strongest front rows.
Newland has more experience at the top level now, fellow prop Jamie Mackintosh should benefit from his first All Black tour, and rugged Southlanders David Hall and Jason Rutledge will compete for the No 2 jersey.
The props are cut from the same cloth.
Both love nothing more than to replace their training gear with Swanndris and boots and head to the hills with a rifle. That's why there should be no danger of Mackintosh coming back from an All Black tour with an ego to match his boots.
"Hopefully he won't be too bad. Maybe he'll be talking it up more than he normally does," Newland grinned.
As well as the big prop, Hawkes Bay supplies an assistant coach (Peter Russell) and five players (Israel Dagg, Jason Shoemark, Matt Berquist, George Naoupu and Anthony Perenise) to the Highlanders.
That might make it seem like home to Newland.
But he points out he has barely played for the Magpies over the past two seasons, having been injured this season and suspended for much of past year for punching Neemia Tialata.
Newland will head back north for the brief Christmas break - and a spot of hunting will definitely be on the cards.
