CULLEN ‘SICK’ OF HIS RANKING

JOE CULLEN admitted he was “sick” of his ranking after powering into round two of the Poland Masters.

‘The Rockstar’ produced a commanding display to see off Krzysztof Kciuk 6-2 and lay down a marker at the Euro Tour event. 

World No.35 Cullen endured a frustrating campaign last season, failing to reach the quarter-finals of a major for the first time since 2017.

Cullen insists he has rediscovered his hunger at the oche and is determined to put in the hard graft throughout this campaign. 

He said: “I’ve started putting effort in this year. Last year I wasn’t good enough. There were certain spells where I had the old me. 

“Ultimately, in this game you get out what you give in. This year I thought to myself, put some work in. 

“I did that last year, but I got into the final of the first ProTour and then won one. Then I thought, ‘Oh, I can sit back a little bit now.’ 

“This year I thought, I am sick of being where I am, to be honest. I am better than a lot of players above me. 

“But the rankings suggest otherwise, so it is only me that can put that right. I have been putting the work in and I feel so comfortable at the minute. 

“I think last year, in front of a partisan crowd in someone’s home country, I would have folded there. I felt like I didn’t deserve it.

“I knew he would come out strong, but I thought the quality would show through at the end if I let it.” 

Cullen is back on Saturday night as he locks horns with former world champion Michael Smith in a blockbuster last-32 clash at the EXPO Krakow.

Image by Taylor Lanning.