ROCK REFUSES TO CALL HIMSELF ELITE

JOSH ROCK admits he won’t class himself amongst the elite until he plays in the Premier League. 

‘Rocky’ whitewashed home favourite Danny Noppert 6-0 in round two of the World Series Finals after averaging a whopping 107.36 in Amsterdam. 

World No. 11 Rock has set up a mouthwatering clash with Mike De Decker in the quarter-final on Sunday afternoon as he attempts to lift a maiden major title. 

Rock says he was shocked at dispatching ‘Noppy’ in just 10 minutes and was taken aback by the support he received from the Dutch fans. 

He said: “They [darts] just went in, they just felt great up there and I put them in the right place. 

“I’m not the person to give myself praise, but when I walked off that stage, I went: ‘Oh, you played well there.’ I knew the timing and everything, it was all going to plan. 

“I wasn’t expecting it to be 10 minutes. I was going out there with the mentality knowing that the crowd was going to be against me and it was the complete opposite.   

“As soon as I walked on the walk-on, the crowd were with me the whole time, which I was really surprised about. So I think that might have took a wee bit of pressure off me. 

“I think they actually wanted me to win, which is weird, obviously, in Holland, when you’re playing someone from Holland.” 

Antrim thrower Rock has been in sensational form this year reaching the semi-finals of both the UK Open and World Matchplay.  

Former World Youth Champ Rock also won the World Cup alongside team-mate Daryl Gurney in June and made the finals of the last two Euro Tour events in Belgium and Prague. 

But the 24-year-old refuses to label himself as one of the best on the circuit at present. 

He added: “Until I get into the Premier League, I’ll never class myself as an elite player.”

Rock reckons his current hot streak has been boosted by changes he made to his darting setup. 

He revealed: “As I said last year, my manager knew after the World Grand Prix that I was switching to Target in October.  

“Obviously that’s made the difference for me—switching it out. 

“I think it is down to the equipment, and obviously the confidence and experience too.”