Northern Ireland ace Josh Rock is finally hitting the heights many predicted – albeit a couple of years later than expected. When asked by Darts World at the Matchplay what had caused the delay, Rocky pointed to negative management and manufacturer issues.
Without dwelling on the past, the County Antrim arrow-smith is now guided by Rab Bain – manager of former World Champ, Rob Cross – and part of the star-studded Target Darts squad.
A major turning point came in June when he and Daryl Gurney delivered Northern Ireland their first World Cup triumph. Rock hasn’t added an individual TV major yet, but most believe it’s only a matter of time – Jonny Clayton, after all, followed a similar path. He’s widely tipped as a lock for next year’s Premier League, but Rock has been quick to cool that speculation, refusing to get drawn in. Probably wise.
In a year where he got married and became a World Cup champion, the 24-year-old insists the best is yet to come. Speaking to Online Darts recently, he reflected on his current form – starting with the Target Darts Manchester pop-up shop launch:
“Oh absolutely amazing. Especially opening up the shop for everybody like this. I’m glad I was here – I wasn’t even meant to be, I had other stuff going on, but I cancelled and thought, I’m going straight to the Target launch. I wanted to show my face for Gary [Plummer] obviously – he’s been massive for me and my career. It’s been fantastic.”
For the uninitiated, Gary Plummer is often referred to as “Mr Target,” which tells you everything you need to know. Rock wasn’t shy about his excitement wandering through a shop crammed with new toys.
“I’ll buy the whole shop! I’ve actually got Phil’s new ones – they look quite nice, so I’ll just keep them because they look nice.”
That’s Rock in a nutshell: averaging 110 one week, impulse buying Phil Taylor’s darts the next, simply because they look nice. Balance in all things. And make no mistake – 2025 has been a belter. He’s proud of his progress, though the scary bit for everyone else is that he insists this is just the start.
“Yes, at the moment these are the darts of my career. But I’m only getting better – I’m going to be in this game for 35 years, so this won’t be my best year! But right now, yeah, this is my best year so far.”
Confidence levels? Somewhere between Luke Littler at a kebab shop and Lionel Messi standing over a penalty. Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. His semi-final loss at the World Series of Darts Finals to Michael van Gerwen came with a side order of whistling – the irritating kind.
“It’s different when it’s 3,500–4,000 fans whistling – that’s one consistent noise and you can deal with it. But when it’s just one person whistling, it’s not fair. In my opinion, they should be thrown out straight away. It was a crucial point in the game. I was going for a double to keep the score close with Michael – I was competing with him easily enough. But then whoever that numpty was whistled, and I gave the sarcastic thumbs up. It puts it in your head and it’s hard to shake off. The frustration definitely lingered.”
It’s clear Rock is biting his tongue on what he’d really like to say. Welcome to darts in 2025: nine-darters, 170 checkouts, and still vulnerable to one idiot with a set of lungs.
“Someone needs to have the guts to say, ‘It was him,’ and throw them out – whether it’s me or not being targeted. Because it ruins it for everybody. People come to watch us perform – nine-darters, big finishes, great games – not listen to some numpty whistling.”
And as for adapting to it? Forget it.“Probably not. You never know when to expect it. Sometimes I’d miss a double and nothing happened, and then at a crucial moment – bang – someone whistles. That’s what gets to you.”
Still, he credited van Gerwen for bouncing back. “It’s obviously good for Michael. We all go through ups and downs in our careers and he’s had a big one. That long term might have kept him away, but it looks like he’s back – especially when he’s in Holland, he just seems to turn it on.”
Rock is hotly tipped for the 2026 Premier League after three major semi-finals and that World Cup win, though he remains unfazed. “I just laugh at it. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing – going further in majors, playing consistently – and hopefully, fingers crossed, things happen naturally.”
He’s also had the ultimate seal of approval from the 16-time World Champion himself. Phil Taylor recently put him forward as a must-have for the Premier League, and Rock still beams recalling it.
“Massive confidence. The first time I met Phil was in a hotel – we sat talking for two or three hours. He told me, ‘If you’re not on it next year, there’s something wrong.’ To hear that from the greatest of all time – it means the world. I looked up to him as a kid, so I was a bit nervous speaking to him, but he’s just a normal bloke.”
So, there you have it: Josh Rock’s 2025. A World Cup win, near-miss nine-darters, a shopping spree at Target, and a battle with phantom whistlers. To coin a phrase I was the first to use in an interview with the Antrim youngster – we can all smell what The Rock is cooking. And it looks very much like a huge Premier League Pie.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
