"I have to earn myself rather than being given myself": James Wade bemoans clique of players handed constant opportunities

James Wade spoke out against the clique of players who have been handed opportunities while has to earn them himself as he hit out at a reporter surrounding questions over his form.

A 10-5 win over Danny Noppert at the World Matchplay saw Wade produce after he nearly didn't qualify for the tournament and that people shouldn't be so quick to use rankings as a barometer.

"I tell you what this year is the first year I've felt a little bit subdued and a little bit relaxed. But you know I looked at that game and thought just pummel him, pummel him and I couldn't. I didn't have it in me but I just did the right things at the right time," said Wade to Online Darts.

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"If anyone believes that my ability and how I am as a player should be on the last cusps then I can't alter that opinion or that view. As I've said a million times, I wasn't very well. I haven't been very well for a long time. I've only just got over it pretty much. I was number three in the world up until two years ago. There's a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that a lot of people don't see. It's not been a clear cut thing with what you see with my rankings and how I am. I don't believe I've played particularly bad for the last 18 months. For the last three or four months I definitely haven't played bad."

"There are a lot of players that have had the rub of the green but you've also got to create the rub of the green. I believe I haven't played bad for about three months."

But he also bemoaned those who have been given opportunities while he has to earn them himself and said unless you're in that clique, you don't get it.

"I still believe I am good enough to be in the top 10. I haven't been doing enough. We'll see where I am in 24 months time. I love people that are critics. In darts there are categories and there is this big wall of darts and players that are in a safe haven. I'm not in that haven. I need to earn my right to be in that haven. There's a group of players that are looked after very, very well and they get invited and they have the invitation. While a lot of players haven't got that."

"You need to part of that crew. Unless you're under a certain management or organisation you can't be part of that. I have to work harder and I have to earn myself rather than being given myself."

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