Josh Rock has firmly stated he has no regrets about deliberately engaging with a hostile Glasgow crowd during his Premier League Darts debut season. The Northern Irishman, who is still without a win after three nights—exiting in the quarter-finals each time—lost 6-2 to Luke Humphries in Glasgow last Thursday. The evening turned turbulent when Rock, a Rangers FC fan, said beforehand he hoped the venue would be packed with Rangers supporters since city rivals Celtic were playing in the Europa League simultaneously. Instead, he was booed loudly by Celtic fans in attendance, prompting him to respond with a much-discussed 3-1 gesture aimed at those booing from the stands.
In an interview with Oche180, Rock was asked if he regretted the incident. "No, not one bit," he said firmly. He added that negativity doesn't bother him, noting, "Stuff like that doesn't bother me. I don't dwell on anything bad." This mental resilience, he suggests, could be a key weapon in the high-pressure Premier League environment. Rock also joked about a previous incident where he blamed washing his hands before a game in Antwerp for a poor display, saying with a smile, "I've been laughing about it. I put some wet wipes beside my case, just as a laugh to obviously make a bit of fun of it!"
Despite the lack of wins, Rock remains positive about his performances, claiming he has been playing decently in two of the three weeks. "I've been playing decent enough in this Premier League Darts," he said. "I just haven't got the results just yet. But that will turn." He emphasized his enjoyment of the big crowds, stating, "The crowd? I love it. If you watch my walk-ons, I've been smiling every time as I walk down. I know what I'm there for, the Premier League, playing in these big arenas." Rock described practising on stage before doors opened, marveling at the arenas he dreamed of as a kid.
Looking ahead, Rock will face Gian van Veen in the quarter-finals this Thursday during the fourth night of Premier League Darts in Belfast, in front of his home crowd.
