ROCK CONFIDENT IN STRONGEST EVER NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM
12/06/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
JOSH ROCK has declared this the “strongest ever” Northern Ireland team as he looks to win a historic first World Cup title.
‘Rocky’ heads into Frankfurt in red-hot form after clinching Players Championship 10, reaching the UK Open semi-final, and having the fourth-highest tour average of the season with 98.36.
World No. 17 Rock enters the tournament in the second round on Saturday as the fourth seed alongside two-time major winner Daryl Gurney.
Rock heaped praise on teammate Gurney and believes together they can lead Northern Ireland to a maiden crown.
He said: “Daryl, over the years when he has played on the oche, can turn into a different animal.
“He has played in the Premier League, won the Grand Prix, and won the Players Championship.
“I really do think this is the strongest Northern Ireland team that there has ever been.
“It would mean the absolute world to me and Daryl because Northern Ireland haven’t really won much.
“So I think if me and him lifted that trophy for our country, it would be absolutely fantastic.”
Former world youth champ Rock admits recent changes in his equipment and setup have led to a stellar run of success at the oche this year.
He added: “Fingers crossed it will be a very special year for me.
“I’ve been putting in the hard work. Obviously, I switched with Target and they got my darts perfect.
“They changed my whole setup now and I am just very comfortable.
“I’ve gone slightly lighter with my darts and I have changed the shape of the barrel at the front.
“They just seem to be flying in better.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
