Josh Rock admits he needs something to get him angry after being branded “too nice” in this year’s Premier League.
Rock sits bottom of the table after failing to register a victory in the first six weeks of the competition ahead of Thursday’s trip to Dublin, live on Sky Sports.
Fellow Northern Irishman Daryl Gurney has urged Rock to adopt a tougher mindset against his Premier League rivals. “Sometimes Josh is just too nice,” Gurney told Tungsten Tales. “He needs to get into his own zone and think, ‘everyone’s here to beat me’, not the other way around.”
Rock responded: “Yes, I could do [channel my anger], but I need something to get me angry. I can’t just put it on. There are times there’s been matches I’ve been involved in when I’ve put the angry head on because something’s annoyed me during a game or whatever and I’ve been untouchable. But something like that has to happen for me to get me going.
“I just go up there and believe my ability is better than theirs on the night. Obviously, it’s not going to plan just at the minute, but that will change.”
Rock has shown strong form outside the Premier League, reaching the UK Open semi-finals for the second year in a row, and insists he fully deserves his place in the competition. “Obviously I haven’t got off to the greatest start in the Premier League, but I’m starting to enjoy being in the league, I deserve to be there, I put all the hard work in last year,” the 24-year-old said.
“It’s my first cap in the Premier League so it probably just needs a bit of getting used to. I moved house on February 3 and I’ve only been home 11 days, so there’s a lot of travelling, I don’t know if you can put it down to that. But I’m still enjoying the Premier League games even though I’m getting beat.”
Rock also produced a nine-darter during his quarter-final game against Gian van Veen on Night Four in Belfast.
What’s happening on Premier League Night Seven in Dublin?
Night Seven takes place at Dublin’s 3Arena. The opening match features Gian van Veen versus Michael van Gerwen.
Night Seven – 3Arena, Dublin on Thursday March 19
Quarter-Finals
Gian van Veen vs Michael van Gerwen
Stephen Bunting vs Luke Littler
Josh Rock vs Gerwyn Price
Jonny Clayton vs Luke Humphries
Stephen Bunting meets Luke Littler, Rock faces Gerwyn Price for the first time in this year’s Premier League, and table-topper Jonny Clayton plays reigning champion Luke Humphries in a repeat of last Thursday’s final.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries is defending his title and the action is shown live every Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.