Daryl Gurney has firmly ruled out a return to Premier League Darts, stating he has no need or desire for the "chaos" it brings. The Northern Irishman, a Premier League participant between 2018 and 2020, said, "Do I need it? No. Do I want to be in it? No. I don’t need that chaos in my life." He added that he would only consider it if directly asked, saying, "If they all of a sudden came to me and said, ‘Do you want to play in it?’ I would definitely say yes," but emphasized that major wins like the World Championship or Matchplay would be required to even be in contention.
Gurney's focus is instead on supporting his compatriot Josh Rock, whom he partnered with to win the World Cup of Darts for Northern Ireland last year. He remains unwavering in his belief in Rock, despite Rock's difficult run in the Premier League, where the world number seven broke a spell of seven straight defeats with a 6-3 quarterfinal win over Jonny Clayton on Night Eight in Berlin. Gurney said, "I still think Josh Rock will come good. He is only halfway through the Premier League now. The hard stage is over he has played everybody. I feel like the next one for him is just around the corner."
Highlighting Rock's mental resilience, Gurney noted, "I think for me Josh is so mentally strong. He has come such a short way in such a short space of time. I think this will not affect him." He also draws a distinction between their playing styles, saying, "I am a hard-working, grafting dart player, whereas Josh Rock is more natural." Gurney supports Rock with weekly text messages, adding, "I text him good luck every week. He just replies back and goes, ‘Thanks, D.' I don’t give him advice because it’s Josh Rock. He is one of the best players on the planet. He doesn't need my advice."
Gurney's priorities are clear, with a focus on defending the World Cup title. He stated, "I’d rather go back-to-back World Cup champions than win an individual tournament for myself," and emphasized his commitment to his partner, saying, "You have to support your partner and that’s my partner. If I don’t support him, who else will? I am going to keep his confidence up until we get into the World Cup."
