Northern Irishman apologizes for performance after losing grip in fingers during Premier League Darts defeat
Josh Rock has issued a public apology after Sky Sports commentators were left stunned by one of his throws during his Premier League Darts night two quarter-final defeat to Michael van Gerwen in Antwerp, Belgium.
The 24-year-old Northern Irishman, competing in his first Premier League campaign, suffered a frustrating 6-2 loss to the Dutchman on Thursday (February 12) as his darts repeatedly slipped from his grasp at crucial moments.
“What On Earth?”
The bizarre incident occurred in leg three, when Rock missed a huge chance with three darts at double 15, unable to land one before Van Gerwen took full advantage by making it 2-1.
But it was in the fourth leg where the problem became most apparent.
Rock returned with a 180 in the fourth leg before being unable to check out, finding 14, then hitting one rather than 20, which prompted Sky Sports’ commentator Rod Studd to say: “Oh my word… what on earth? What a time — he’s indicating it’s slipped out of his hand,” while the 24-year-old shook his head in disbelief.
Van Gerwen then punished him by landing double 16 to make it 3-1.
The problems continued throughout the match, with Rock visibly frustrated as he struggled to maintain control of his equipment.
Rock’s Public Apology
Taking to social media after the match, Rock offered his explanation and apology to fans who had watched his disappointing performance.
He wrote: “Want to apologise to everyone who watched me. I felt fantastic up there but had no grip in my fingers. It is what it is. We move on. All the best @mvg180 [Michael van Gerwen]”.
The gracious message highlighted Rock’s professionalism despite the frustrating circumstances, acknowledging his own issues while congratulating his opponent.
Van Gerwen’s Dominant Display
The Dutchman also won the fifth leg, making it 4-1, after Rock missed the opportunity to take out 72. MVG also secured the sixth leg to make it 5-1, finishing with 120, before Rock pulled a leg back in the seventh to make it 5-2 – although his darts continued to slip out of his hand.
The 36-year-old world number four finished by making it 6-2 with a double nine to seal the match and end Rock’s evening early.
Van Gerwen went on to have an excellent night in Antwerp. He then progressed to the final, beating Luke Littler 6-4 in the semi-finals before losing 6-3 to Gerwyn Price in the final.
Difficult Start for Premier League Debutant
The defeat left Rock with zero points from his opening two nights in the Premier League, having also lost his opening match to Jonny Clayton in Newcastle on night one.
After two nights of action, Van Gerwen leads the standings with eight points, while Price (five points), Jonny Clayton (four points) and Gian van Veen (three points) make up the top four. Littler and Luke Humphries are fifth and sixth, both on two points, while Stephen Bunting and Rock are seventh and eighth with zero points.
Despite averaging over 101 against Clayton in his debut match—a solid performance by any measure—Rock ran into a rampant opponent who posted a near-110 average. The grip issues against Van Gerwen represented a different kind of challenge entirely.
Road Ahead
Night three of the Premier League will take place at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on 19 February, giving Rock a week to address his equipment issues before his next appearance.
The Northern Irishman has proven himself as one of the sport’s rising stars, having won five PDC ranking titles including the 2024 Dutch Darts Championship on the European Tour. He also famously threw a nine-dart finish at the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts in his match against Van Gerwen.
Rock reached the semi-finals of major tournaments including the UK Open, World Matchplay, and World Series Finals in 2025, and was part of Northern Ireland’s World Cup of Darts-winning team alongside Daryl Gurney.
The Grip Crisis
Equipment issues, particularly with grip, are an occupational hazard for professional darts players. Factors including sweat, humidity in arenas, and even the oils from spectators’ hands on retrieved darts can all affect a player’s ability to maintain consistent release.
Some players use specialized grip wax or rosin, while others prefer certain barrel textures or coatings. The fact that Rock felt “fantastic up there” mentally but couldn’t translate that into performance due to the physical grip issue highlights how fine the margins are at elite level.
Verdict
Rock’s candid admission and gracious apology demonstrate the character that has made him a fan favorite despite his relative youth. Rather than making excuses or dwelling on the problem, he acknowledged it, apologized to those who watched, and vowed to move forward.
At just 24 years old and in his debut Premier League campaign, Rock has plenty of time to find his rhythm and address the technical issues that plagued him in Antwerp. The talent is undeniable—he just needs to ensure his equipment matches his ambition.
For now, the Premier League debutant sits bottom of the table alongside Stephen Bunting, but with 14 nights of action still to come before the playoffs, there’s ample opportunity for Rock to climb the standings and prove why the PDC selected him for their prestigious invitational tournament.
Comments are closed.