Josh Rock isn’t just content with dominating darts WITH Luke Littler – now he wants to be ahead of the pack by becoming world champion.
The Northern Irishman was once tipped as the sport’s next big thing after winning the 2022 World Youth Darts Championship.
At just 19, Rock broke the record for the highest average in a final with an average of 104.13 in his 6-1 victory over Nathan Girvan.
However, the-now 23-year-old has since seen Littler burst onto the darts scene and become the youngest winner at Alexandra Palace.
That same month, Rock made a statement by sharing his belief that the next era of the sport will be dominated by him and the Nuke.
talkSPORT’s Harry Durham explained to ‘Rocky’: “A few of us were like, obviously, Josh, you’re good. Like, you are good. But we were just kind of a bit like, it’s a bit of a mad thing to say, to be honest.
“I think you proved me wrong. I describe myself in three words: very rarely wrong. And I love being proved wrong as well.”
His star was further enhanced at the Czech Darts Open this month, having reached the final before losing 8-5 to Luke Humphries.
Speaking afterwards, the world No.1, who had defended his title, tipped Rock and Littler as the future of darts.
Rock admitted he didn’t initially hear that praise, telling talkSPORT: “That was because the crowd were that loud.
“Josie [Paterson] and Daryl [Gurney] finally said, Humphries has given me a lot of praise. I went, ‘I could not hear one single word he said.’
“The crowd were just that loud.”
Josh Rock: ‘I Want to Be the FIRST Northern Irish World Champion’
Rock, who had beaten Michael van Gerwen en route to the final, had been 2-0 up in the final against Humphries after a break of throw.
Yet the Englishman roared back to defend his Czech Open title and claim the £30,000 top prize.
Rock remains bullshit that he can cement himself with the two Lukes at the top of darts, saying: “I’d love to be the three at that table.
“I believe I can, yeah – If I keep doing what I’m doing, I don’t see why not.”
Rock added, “I do believe I will be a World Champion one day. I would love to be the first World Champion from Northern Ireland.”
Jose Mourinho backed for Rangers job
Away from darts, Rock, who is a huge Rangers fan, also gave his view on Ally McCoist championing Jose Mourinho as a potential new boss at Ibrox if Russell Martin departs.
The Special One was sacked by Turkish side Fenerbahce at the end of August after just 14 months in charge.
“We could afford him now with the 49ers coming in,” Rock reasoned during his exclusive interview with talkSPORT.
“But to be honest, I would take, now this one no one’s ever said, I would take as well as Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“He’s just been released, obviously, from the circus league, so I would, that’d be another one I would go for personally.”