"Honestly, if Devon got paid to talk tonight, he’d be a millionaire” Gurney joked. - Northern Ireland counters trash talk with a statement win

Northern Ireland sent a powerful message at the 2025 World Cup of Darts, storming into the quarter-finals with a commanding 8-2 win over South Africa. The newly formed partnership of Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock combined aggression, team chemistry, and stage presence in an emphatic performance that lit up Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle.

Their post-match press conference with dartsnews.com, just minutes after the final dart, revealed a duo not only hungry for success, but built for it.

It was Josh Rock’s first appearance at the World Cup, and sharing the stage with Gurney clearly meant something to the 23-year-old. “Oh, it was definitely worth it,” Rock said. “We both brought fire to the stage and showed just how good we are as a team.”

The high-octane clash with South Africa was anything but dull. At the heart of it all was Devon Petersen, whose flair and volume made for a tense and theatrical affair. One moment in particular stood out for Rock: “When Devon hit that blind 180 and I came back with the double, Daryl turned to him and said ‘That was for you’, and I had to laugh.”

Gurney, a veteran of many World Cups, didn’t hold back in describing the verbal battle on stage. “Honestly, if Devon got paid to talk tonight, he’d be a millionaire,” Gurney joked. “He didn’t stop, unless he was throwing. And when Josh was throwing, he was talking. But that’s Devon’s game, and I warned Josh about that beforehand.”

Rather than reacting, Gurney and Rock held their nerve. “I blanked it out,” Gurney said. “Because you told me to,” Rock quickly added with a grin.

The duo shared another laugh, recalling Petersen’s non-stop commentary, even during the walk-on and practice darts. “He was talking while we were bullying,” Rock recalled. “Not whispering, talking.” Gurney nodded. “I told Josh, don’t worry, we’ll get them in the end. And he told me, ‘That was the worst thing Devon could’ve done.’”

After many years partnering with the soft-spoken Brendan Dolan, the energetic Rock is a refreshing shift for Gurney, and one he clearly relishes. “Brendan is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. But Josh and I are fiery, and this is a different energy,” he explained. “I was buzzing for this match. It felt right.”

This was Gurney’s first World Cup match in two years, but you wouldn’t know it from his performance. “It felt pretty easy getting back into it. I missed the World Cup last year, but I’ve got things sorted this season. Josh was brilliant today, and I stuck with him. Tomorrow, I’ll raise my level to match his.”

The message at the end was clear. Gurney and Rock are not here for a one-off. “Josh and I have been mates since day one. We want to be the first Northern Irish pair to win the World Cup. Maybe it’ll be this year, maybe next, but we’ll be around, and we’ll be dangerous.”