CULLEN WARNS CRITICS HE WILL BE BACK IN TOP 16

JOE CULLEN has fired a defiant message to his critics by insisting he will be back in the top 16.

The former Masters champion believes his ability is being overlooked despite years of competing at the highest level. 

World No.32 Cullen reached the final of Players Championship Eight yesterday but fell 8-4 to Wessel Nijman. 

‘The Rockstar’ picked up two titles on the ProTour last season yet failed to make a quarter-final at any PDC Premier event. 

Cullen admits he often raises his level when he feels doubted but knows he must find that edge more regularly. 

He told Winmau: “I don’t think there is 16 better players than me in the world. People will agree and people will disagree. 

“I know what I am capable of. It’s just getting it out on a consistent basis. So yeah, I am a top 16 player. 

“I think I was in the top 16 for the best part of ten years. Sometimes it gets overlooked. I don’t care to be honest. 

“As long as I am happy within myself I don’t care what other people think. I have had so many games on TV now where the other guy has been a massive favourite.

“I thought I will show you and more often than not I seem to win that game because I am fired up for it. 

“I think I need to find something where I don’t need to find something as extreme as that to fire me up for a game. 

“It shouldn’t be like that. I am up for TV events but there are certain games you are more up for than not. 

“The Wessel [Nijman] game. I remember playing [Damon] Heta at the Matchplay, I was unreal and beat him. 

“Bradley Brooks this year. There are so many different caveats where I have thought I will show you.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.