WEBSTER BELIEVES ROCK’S CONFIDENCE IS SHATTERED

MARK WEBSTER says Josh Rock’s confidence looks “shattered” as he endures a nightmare start to the Premier League.

World No.7 Rock is yet to win a game in the tournament on debut and sits rock bottom of the table after seven Nights of action. 

Former Lakeside champ Webster has already written off Rock’s hopes of qualifying for the play-offs at the O2. 

Webster believes the Antrim thrower is now focused solely on limiting the damage each week, rather than actively chasing a victory. 

He told the Love the Darts podcast: “I thought the Premier League was made for him, but this is getting pretty desperate for him now.  

“But it’s a horrible feeling. I’ve played and you just go to a point where you want to get a certain amount of legs on the board.

“He won’t even be focusing on winning a game now. It’s because he’s been beating to nil last week and it’s tough for him. And it’s a horrible experience he’s going through.

“I think eventually he’ll benefit from it, but it just doesn’t feel like it at the minute. He’s too far adrift. He plays Jonny [Clayton] next because it’s obviously League order and he’s going to find it tough.

“He started week one, he’s beaten by Jonny and he can’t read too much into that, but the longer it went on, he had his night in Belfast with the nine darter, but very little else.  

“This becomes a chore now. He turns up and he doesn’t look forward to it.” 

‘Rocky’ suffered another setback at the Belgian Darts Open last week, exiting in the second round after surrendering a 4–2 lead against Kim Huybrechts. 

Webster fears it is a difficult period for Rock, with little encouragement coming from his recent performance on the European Tour. 

He added: “He’s been beaten early in the Euro tour on the weekend and nothing really to take from that.  

“This is a real test for Josh Rock. We’ll have to see how he comes out the other side, because he’s just going to have to use the remainder of the Premier League for me now. 

“It’s just to try and find some form. If he did somehow manage to get into the playoffs, it would be a sudden turnaround. But I just don’t see it.

“And at the minute, it just needs to get some points, get some confidence. But I feel for him. Like I said, being there myself, it’s horrible.

“Your confidence is shattered. I hope it’s not sort of a negative effect going forward in terms of his career.

“I think it’s a case for him now just try and get the Premier League done and regroup for the majors for the year.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.