Hearn keeping his eye on rising talent Josh Rock: "As long as he works hard enough, that kid will be a top-eight player"

Despite retiring last year, Barry Hearn still keeps his eye in on darts as PDC President and has always been known to compile the rankings himself and keep a close eye on goings on.

Hearn spoke about a few young players to watch out for on the latest episode of the Darts Show Podcast and one highlighted was Northern Irish sensation, Josh Rock who has come from nowhere to rise up the ranks in recent months.

“I’ll pick a few young players. I don’t always know what they look like but I’ll pick up on their data, because that’s the key. You can see a star coming through that people don’t know,” Hearn told a PDC Darts Show Podcast Special.

“Look at their numbers against quality opposition and these numbers don’t lie. Now, they’ve got to stay on the right road, they’ve got to sacrifice a little bit of their youth.

“There’s one in particular that I’m watching a lot of at the moment, Josh Rock. Even when he gets beat, he’s hitting numbers that means he isn’t going to get beat very often.”

“He missed a weekend in Germany [on the European Tour] a few months ago because he couldn’t get off work apparently and I thought ‘negative Josh, negative, walk out, son, stand your ground’,” added Hearn.

“But he’s doing really well. He needs a couple of big results to get in the Matchplay, but he’s not that far away. At the moment, he’s just about qualifying for the World Grand Prix and he’s well into the World Championship. I know my numbers! He is capable and he’s beating quality players with high averages.

"He doesn’t know me, he doesn’t know the scrutiny he’s under. But I watched him in a couple of five-all games and he kicked off with a 180. Class. When you’re under the cosh, when you’re young, when those ranking pound notes mean so much, you’re really under it. If you can deliver under that type of cosh, you’re going to get better. As long as he works hard enough, that kid will be a top-eight player one day.”