ROCK WARNED PERFECTION CAN’T PREVENT PREMIER LEAGUE PAIN
27/02/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
JOSH ROCK is getting ‘hidings’ in the Premier League, according to ex-pro Wayne Mardle.
World No.9 Rock slumped to a FOURTH consecutive 6-2 defeat in the major tournament after being overpowered by Gian van Veen.
‘Rocky’ lit up the night with a stunning nine-darter in his quarter-final clash, sending his beloved Belfast crowd into delirium and was rewarded with a £30,000 set of golden darts from BetMGM.
But Mardle insists one flash of brilliance cannot paper over the cracks, warning that Rock is continuing to suffer heavy losses.
He said: “The way he was playing just previously — I was saying he’s got no composure! I don’t know what’s happened.
“He can’t string two darts together, let alone three. Where has the big scoring gone? I was saying, ‘It’s all going wrong’ — and then he does that!
“He won’t know where it came from. Brilliantly for him, he somehow found a way to compose himself.
“A lot of pros say: once two 180s go in, you relax — you don’t.
“The way he must have been feeling, because going into that leg he hadn’t hit a 180.
“He hadn’t done anything right. To regain composure and do what he did was incredible.
“He needs to and wants to play miles better than that. It was a wonderful leg of darts.
“But I am looking further ahead than that. He needs to start putting performances together.
“Family and friends will be amazed, but it was a fourth 6-2 defeat on the bounce. That is massive. They are hidings.
“I just feel like there is so much more to come from Josh Rock. He needs to concentrate on that.”
The Antrim thrower is bottom of the table on zero points but admitted he doesn’t care about the setback after hitting the perfect leg.
He added: “My body is in overdrive. I am shaking like a leaf. It was a dream come true.
“If I ever played in the Premier League, I’d love to hit a nine-darter in Belfast.
“I don’t care with losing. Hitting a nine-darter in front of my home crowd is a massive achievement in my eyes.
“I don’t care if I never throw a nine-darter again, this is a dream come true. I can’t explain how I feel.”
Rock returns to action next Thursday at the Premier League and will face Luke Littler in Cardiff on Night Five.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
