Josh Rock remains calm and determined despite a challenging start to his Premier League Darts debut season, having gone six nights without a win. The Northern Irishman, who moved house on February 3 and has only been home 11 days amid a packed travel schedule, acknowledges the adjustment period but refuses to panic or seek extensive advice. "It's my first run in the Premier League and it's probably just about getting used to it," Rock said candidly. "I moved house on the 3rd of February 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 listen, I'm still enjoying the Premier League even though I'm getting beat."
Rock, who is currently bottom of the Premier League table, admits the intensity caught him off guard but maintains a positive outlook. "I didn't expect it to be the way it is, but listen, I'm not complaining," he stated. Despite former player Daryl Gurney suggesting he should be harder and fiercer on stage, Rock prefers his own path. "I'm a person who needs something to make me angry—I can't just switch it on. There have been matches where someone has annoyed me and I've put the angry head on, and I've clicked into form and been untouchable. But something has to happen to get me going like that," he explained, adding, "I'd rather try to do it my way and learn the hard way, just getting used to the whole surroundings of the Premier League."
Amid the struggles, Rock delivered a standout moment with a nine-darter in Belfast. "Going from playing absolutely pathetic to hitting a nine-darter from absolutely nowhere was a great feeling," he reflected. "But because it was in Belfast—my hometown—it was very, very sweet. I don't think I would have reacted the same way if it had been in a different venue." Outside the Premier League, he has shown strong form, including at the recent UK Open, and agrees with analyst Wayne Mardle's observation that he might be worried about Thursday nights while excelling elsewhere.
Beyond darts, Rock is navigating a hectic personal life, having become a father a year and a half ago and recently moving to a larger home. "I needed to move house. My daughter came along about a year and a half ago, so we needed a bigger place," he said. He also addressed crowd behavior issues, criticizing whistling spectators: "It's just people having a drink and thinking they're funny. They need to act their age. If it keeps happening, they're going to spoil it for everyone, and we don't want that in the sport." Rock expressed pride in darts' growth in Ireland, noting that youth participation has surged from about 12 to over 120 in his area, partly inspired by new stars like Luke Littler. Despite the results, he remains optimistic: "It's not going to plan at the minute, but it will change."
