CROSS TELLS TROLLS TO BACK OFF LITTLER AND ROCK

In association with Diamond Draws Competitions.

By Phil Lanning

ROB CROSS has told the haters to “back off” young superstars Luke Littler and Josh Rock.

The 2018 world champion reckons that social media trolls are too quick to judge the players nowadays. 

Littler has only won one match so far in this year’s Premier League while Rock has lost both his quarter-final clashes before they arrive in Glasgow on Thursday. 

But former PL finalist Cross told Oche180: “I think people need to back off the boys a bit. It’s so brutal how quickly people jump on you for one bad result. 

“The hype surrounding the Premier League is insane, it’s a real goldfish bowl once you are in it. 

“If you are playing well and on a high you can’t wait for every Thursday night. If you are going through a sticky patch, Thursday nights seem to come round far too quickly!

“Littler will laugh it off if anyone is having a dig right now. He knows it’s a marathon not a sprint. 

“The lad also had a bug last week which makes it extra tough when you are travelling and feel like rubbish. 

“He’s likely to go on a huge winning run at some stage and blow everyone away, winning nights and hitting nine-darters. He loves the challenge and shutting people up. 

“Josh was always going to take time to settle in the Premier League. He had issues in Antwerp with his darts slipping. He wasn’t expecting that. 

“I reckon he’ll get a purple patch as well. He’s a class act and if you can win World Cups under huge pressure playing for your country, he will cope with the Premier League. 

“To be fair Gian (van Veen) also found it hard last week. The most crucial thing is not to dwell on the bad weeks. Just move on. You’re not going to win every week in the Premier League. 

“You have to get used to losing. That’s where the mental strength comes into play big time.”

Cross believes that the league is becoming fascinating with Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price finding their form again. 

He added: “Those guys are world class and they seem to have a point to prove that they can still outgun the Lukes Littler and Humphries. 

“The Lukes haven’t caught fire yet. When they do and if the likes of Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton and Rocky find their top form, it will get pretty fierce for the top four places.”

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Image by TAYLOR LANNING.